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Memorial  of  the  Rev.  Henry 
G.  Comingo,  D.D.,  pastor  o 


I 


MEMORIAL  (  apr 20 lew 


OF  TUE 


REV.  HENRY  G.  COMINGO,  D.  D., 


PASTOR  OF  THE 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH, 

STEUBENVILLE,  OHIO. 


CONTAINING 

HIS  TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY  DISCOURSE, 
PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  ANNIVERSARY  MEETING, 
HIS  TWO  SERMONS,  DELIVERED  NOVEMBER  24th, 
FUNERAL  DISCOURSE,  BY  Rev.  DR.  C.  C.  BEATTY. 


PUBLISHED  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


STEUBENVILLE  : 
PRINTED  AT  THE  HERALD  OFFICE. 

1862. 


ANNIVERSARY  DISCOURSE: 

PREACHED  BY  THE 

REVEREND  HENRY  G.  COMINGO,  D.  D^ 

NOVEMBER     17th,    1861, 

TwentyrFive  Years  after  his  Entrance  on  his  Ministry 
AT   STEUBEN^YILLE,    OHIO. 


mttiMrfitw 


HENRY   G.   COMINGO, 
Boaw 

Near  Harrodsburg,  Kentucky, 

FEBRUARY  2nd,  1809, 


At  Centre   College,  Danville,  Ky., 

JULY,  1832. 


XLaiooxxsool  to    r»r©«.ola. 

By  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

FEBRUARY  3rd,  1836. 


In  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Steubenville,  0. 

NOVEMBER  18th,  1836. 


Orola.lxiL©ol   3E»«-stor 

By  the  Presbytery  of  Steubenville, 

MAY  24th,  1837. 


DECEMBER    1st,     1861. 


ANNIVERSARY  DISCOURSE. 

I  remember  the  days  of  old,  I  meditate  on  all  Thy  works  j  I  muse  on  the  work  of  Thy 
Hands. — Psalm  143:  v.  5. 

One  much  given  to  solemn  reflection,  has  said  with  striking 
emphasis  : — 

"  'Tis  greatly  wise  to  talk  with  our  past  hours, 
And  ask  Ihem  what  report  they  bore  to  Heaven." 

Israel  was  commanded  to  "remember  all  the  way  in  which  the 
Lord  their  God  had  led  them."  Even  a  slight  acquaintance  with 
the  mental  habits  of  the  Psalmist  will  show  that  he  found  both  a 
favorite  and  profitable  study,  in  the  records  of  the  past.  Hear 
some  of  the  many  utterances  of  the  inspired  Lyrist :  "I  have 
considered  the  days  of  old,  the  years  of  ancient  times ;  I  call  to 
remembrance,  my  song  in  the  night."  "I  will  remember  the 
years  of  the  right  hand  of  the  Most  High.  I  will  remember  the 
works  of  the  Lord:  surely  I  will  remember  Thy  wonders  of  old." 

We  cannot  beiieve  that  it  will  be  displeasing  to  our  Divine 
Sovereign,  for  us  to  occupy  our  attention  with  the  suggestive  and 
instructive  retrospect  of  the  times,  and  seasons  given  to  us  for  our 
profit,  now  closed  to  us,  and  irretrieveably  drifted  beyond  the 
bourne  of  Time.  Hence,  it  is  reasonable  and  proper,  that  on  this 
special  occasion,  when  we  attempt  to  cast  back  our  vision  upon 
the  way  which  the  Lord  has  led  us,  fur  a  quarter  of  a  century,  that 
first  of  all  we  lift  up  our  hearts  and  voices  to  "the  Father  of 
Lights,  from  whom  cometh  every  good  and  perfect  gift,"  in  fer- 
vent thanksgiving,  and  here  raise  our  Ebenezer,  inscribing 
upon  it  those  memerable  words  of  faith  and  prayer,  "Hitherto 
hath  the  Lord  helped  us." 

Standing  in  the  peculiar  position,  in  which  we  are  placed  this 
day,  it  makes  a  world-wide  difference  whether  we  look  upon  the 
quarter  of  a  century,  just  now  completed,  or  upon  the  same  num- 
ber of  years  this  day  begun.  The  former  is  the  well  explored 
country,  all  surveyed,  and  mapped,  and  open  to  the  gaze  of  every 
beholder.  The  latter  is  the  virgin  continent,  just  looming  up  in  the 
hazy  distance,  in  sight  of  the  discoverer.  The  former  has  written 
out  its  chronology,  its  discoveries,  its  biographic  and  historic 
sketches,  and  wholly  withdrawn  the  veil  from  the  once  hidden 
epoch,  unequalled  in  interest  in  any  similar  past  period  of  the 
Christian  era.  The  latter  stands  ready  to  begin,  to-morrow,  to  turn 


0 

prophecy  into  historj  ;  and  by  a  gradual,  unremitting  process, 
will  bring  to  light  the  stupendous  events,  for  which  all  the  world 
waits  with  impatient  expectation,  and  to  inaugurate  great  provi- 
dential developments,  that  shall  thrill  and  startle  the  rising  gen- 
eration. The  one  is  now  the  plain,  practical,  matter-of-fact  lesson 
book.  The  other  is  the  volume  of  brilliant  speculations,  all  ra- 
diant with  the  bright  day  dreams,  and  fancy  sketches  of  the  good 
time  coming,  to  engross  the  lovers  of  fiction,  and  render  them 
oblivious  of  the  safe  and  profitable  teaching  of  the  past.  Impet- 
uous as  we  are  in  our  attempts  to  grasp  the  events  of  the  future, 
we,  after  all  our  labored  efforts,  cannot  tell  what  a  day  will  bring 
forth.  But  even  with  the  imperfect  record  before  us,  of  the  past 
quarter  of  a  century,  we  may  recur  to  those  days  of  old,  and 
gravely  ponder  their  revelations  and  teachings,  and  rise  from  the 
lesson  better  fitted  to  take  our  bearings  upon  the  untried  waste  of 
waters  still  ebbing  and  flowing  in  life's  unresting  ocean. 

This  day  twenty-five  years  ago  I  first  entered  this  pulpit,  ac- 
companied by  the  Rev.  Elisha  McCurdy,  a  venerable  patriarch, 
whose  name  stands  intimately  associated  with  the  great  revivals, 
by  which  our  church  was  much  enlarged  and  strengthened,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century.  I  then  preached  on  the  doctrine 
of  justification  by  faith,  from  the  text  "Therefore  being  justified  by 
faith  we  have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Rom. 
5: 1.  On  the  third  day  of  the  preceding  February  I  had  been  licensed 
to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.; 
and  when  about  to  leave  the  Seminary  the  succeeding  autumn, 
Dr.  Miller  informed  me  that  my  old  friend,  E.  T.  McLain, — who 
had  been  preaching  here — had  been  compelled  to  leave,  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health,  and  he  would  suggest  that  I  should  take  this 
place  on  my  way  to  Kentucky,  and  spend  a  Sabbath  or  two  here, 
if  this  congregation  should  still  remain  without  a  supply.  It  was 
understood  that  the  severe  illness  of  Dr.  Beatty  would  render  it 
impossible  for  him  to  resume  his  pastoral  care,  over  this  Church. 

I  had  finished  my  course  in  the  Seminary,  and  felt  anxious  to 
know  whether  and  where  the  Lord  had  work  for  me  to  do,  in  his 
vineyard.  I  had  prayed  for  Divine  direction.  IJaving  been 
brought  up  in  a  slave  State,  and  having  witnessed  the  difficulties 
of  maintaining  ministerial  fidelity  in  such  a  community,  I  had 
asked,  with  humbleness  and  submission,  that  God  would  grant 
me  a  field  not  cumbered  with  the  embarrassments  which  I  so 
much  dreaded. 


When  I  arrived  at  Pittsburgh,  becoming  impatient  to  reach 
home,  and  feeling  a  delicacy  in  offering  myself  to  so  large  and 
important  a  Church,  I  wrote  to  David  Hoge,  a  prominent  elder,, 
and  mentioned  the  promise  I  had  made  to  Dr.  Miller,  to  call  and 
preach  here,  provided  the  way  was  open  ;  saying  at  the  same  time,, 
that  I  would  consider  the  promise  as  fulfilled,  if  the  pulpit  were 
occupied,  and  I  would  then  feel  at  liberty  to  hasten  homeward. 
To  this  he  replied  "that  they  had  no  one  to  preach  the  next  Sab- 
bath, and  it  was  the  wish  of  the  session  that  I  should  stop  and 
preach  one  day."  I  preached  two  days,  expecting  to  start  homo 
the  ensuing  day,  when,  the  river  being  filled  with  ice,  I  gave  up 
my  purpose,  and  accepted  an  invitation  to  supply  the  pulpit  dur- 
ing the  winter.  In  the  month  of  February  a  call  was  made  out,, 
and  put  into  my  hands  at  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  next  en- 
suing, which,  (after  previously  conferring  with  my  friends,  and. 
asking  the  Lord  to  interpose  some  obstacle  if  it  were  not  His  will,, 
or  for  His  glory,  that  I  should  undertake  to  fill  this  important 
and  responsible  post,)  I  finally  accepted. 

In  relation  to  this,  I  find  the  following  entry  in  an  old  journal,, 
never  designed  to  see  the  light,  but  which  places  you  in  posses- 
sion of  the  state  of  my  mind  at  the  time  the  call  was  submitted :: 

"  February  15th,  1837.  This  day,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  J  have  been  permitted  to  set 
apart  for  fasting  and  prayer.  On  the  last  Monday,  the  congregation  of  this  town  met  and- 
unanimously  elected  me  their  Pastor.  For  this  I  feel  grateful,  and  see  no  reason  why  I 
may  not  accept ;  but  in  so  important  a  matter  I  felt  bound  in  a  special  manner  to  consult 
the  Will  of  the  Lord  ;  therefore,  this  the  first  and  grand  object  I  have  presented  before 
His  Throne,  pleading  that  if  obstacles  or  reasons  should  exist  why  I  should  not  here  abide,, 
the  Lord  would  show  them  to  me,  and  lead  me  to  the  place  in  which  He  would  have  me 
to  labor." 

One  other  brief  extract  I  may  here  note,  as  it  seems  to  fall  in 
with  the  history  of  my  settlement  over  this  Church : 

"May  24th,  1837.  This  has  been  one  of  the  most  solemn  periods  of  my  life— the  day 
of  my  ordination  and  installation  over  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Steubenville.  Doctor' 
Be.atty  presided.  Mr.  McArthur,  the  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  Cadiz — now  a  saint  in  glory 
— preached  from  these  words :  "  I  beseech  you,  brethren,  that  ye  receive  not  the  grace  of 
God  in  vain."  Dr.  Smith,  then  President  of  Franklin  College,  (now  Pastor  in  Gneensburg, 
Pa.,)  gave  the  charges.  The  exercises  were  solemn.  I  felt  as  though  I  could  shrink  away, 
and  refuse  to  labor  ;  I  felt  in  a  deeper,  and  more  solemn  manner  than  ever  before,  "Who 
is  sufficient  for  these  things  ;"  the  vast  import  of  the  work,  and  my  need  of  everything 
from  God  to  enable  me  to  discharge  the  sacred  and  responsible  duties  laid  upon  me.  I 
commonly  find  comfort  in  the  belief  that  the  Great  Shepherd  called  me  here.  He  has  en- 
joined these  solemn,  duties  upon  me,  surely  He  will  be  with  me  to  the  end  of  life." 

I  venture  to  present  these  glimpses  of  the  train  of  outward  pro- 
vidences, and  of  the  inner  workings  of  my  own  heart  in  bringing 
about  my  location  here,  as  the  Pastor  of  this  Church.  I  deem  it 
proper  to  glance  back  at  my  surroundings  in  this  town  when  I 
landed  here,  an  inexperienced  stranger,  for  the  first  time  in  my 


life  setting  my  foot  upon  Ohio  soil.  Then  the  streets  were  with- 
out gas-light;  here,  and  there,  a  dim  oil  lamp  served  to  make 
darkness  visible.  Our  Churches,  also,  had  a  few  faint  lamps  that 
gave  the  speaker  the  outlines  of  human  forms  before  him,  but  lit- 
tle more  could  be  seen  of  the  congregation  at  the  evening  service. 

Then,  a  large  class  of  persons  were  engaged  in  hauling  water 
from  the  river  for  the  supply  of  seven  thousand  people — that 
being  about  the  population  at  that  period.  Then  there  was  no 
railroad  within  many  miles  of  this  place;  the  stage-coach  and  the 
steamer  were  the  main  public  carriers,  and  with  these  modes  of 
travel  the  public  seemed  quite  contented.  The  mails  were  carried 
in  coaches,  making  the  ordinary  time  of  transit  twelve  hours,  from 
this  to  Pittsburgh.  Though  Prof.  Henrvhad  made  some  remark- 
able  experiments  with  electro-magnetism,  the  thought  of  bringing 
Pittsburgh  within  one  minute  of  this  City,  and  of  sending  mes- 
sengers from  New  York  to  the  Pacific  border  that  could  outrun 
the  chariot  of  the  sun,  had  not  yet  found  a  place  even  in  the  im- 
aginations of  men. 

Then,  a  large  and  beautiful  section  of  our  present  City,  lying 
north  of  Dock  street,  was  chiefly  an  open  field,  and  a  convenient 
pasture  ground. 

The  Churches  then  existing  were : — one  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  worshipping  in  a  building  of  the  form  of  a  T,  holding 
about  five  hundred  persons,  and  standing  on  the  site  where  we 
see  the  capacious  and  elegant  Kramer  Chapel.  St.  Paul's  Epis- 
copal Church  then  stood  as  you  now  see  it,  with  the  exception 
that  it  has  been  considerably  enlarged,  and  decorated  since  that 
time.  Dr.  Morse  was  at  that  time  Rector  of  that  Church, — and 
here  I  may  say  that  he  is  the  only  Minister  left  of  all  that  were 
then  in  charge  of  the  Churches  in  this  city.  On  the  lot  upon 
Fifth  street,  now  occupied  by  the  1st  United  Presbyterian  Church, 
6tood  a  small  brick  building,  perhaps  thirty  feet  wide,  and  forty 
long,  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Buchanan  had  ministered  for  a  number 
of  years.  That  structure  since  disappeared,  and  was  re-produced 
on  Church  street,  in  the  form  of  a  dwelling  house,  where,  per- 
haps, the  present  tenants  lie  down  and  rise  up,  not  knowing  that 
the  brick  walls  around  them  were  for  a  score  of  years  and  more, 
vocal  with  the  teachings  and  prayers  of  that  faithful  and  zealous 
pastor,  who  finished  a  long  and  useful  life  in  our  midst,  and  whose 
dust  this  day  slumbers  in  the  home  of  our  dead.  That  Church 
was  supplanted  by  a  much  larger,   but  rather  unsightly  building. 


which  has  recentlj  been  changed  into  the  tasteful  and  beautiful 
audience  chamber,  now  occupied  by  the  ministrations  of  the  Rev. 
J.  K.  Andrews.  On  Fifth  street,  south  of  Market,  stood  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church — a  low,  one-story  brick  building — 
which,  perhaps,  held  about  four  hundred  persons.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Elliott  was  the  Minister  then  in  charge  ;  he  was  literary  and  spec- 
ulative, much  devoted  in  his  studies,  to  the  then  popular  subject 
of  phrenology  ;  an  eloquent  speaker,  and  much  esteemed  and  ad- 
mired in  this  community.  That  building  has  been  happily  dis- 
placed by  the  new  and  handsome  Church,  now  so  acceptably  filled 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Abbott. 

In  this  general  glance  at  the  Churches  of  this  City,  it  remains 
that  we  notice  the  two  new  congregations  formed  since  that  time. 
The  first  was  formed  from  this  Church  in  the  year  1838,  first 
known  as  the  Free,  and  now  as  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church, 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Patterson.  Its  Pastors 
have  been  the  following  estimable  and  beloved  brethren :  the 
Rev.  Joseph  H.  Chambers — since  called  to  bis  reward,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Beatty,  the  Rev.  ¥m.  P.  Breed,  now  of  Philadelphia,  and  the' Rev. 
Henry  B.  Chapin,  uow  of  Trenton,  1ST.  J.  The  Church  building  was 
furnished  to  that  people  through  the  munificence  of  my  predecessor 
in  the  pastorate  of  this  Church,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beatty.  A  score  of 
years  has  brought  that  Church  through  many  difficulties,  up  to  a 
maturity  of  stature  and  strength,  greatly  gratifying  to  the  large 
number  of  faithful  members  who  long  have  labored  and  prayed 
for  its  success  and  prosperity.  The  other  new  Church  is  the 
Hamline  Chapel;  that  large  edifice  was  opened  January,  1847,  on 
North  Fourth  street.  Its  communion  has  done  good  service  to 
the  cause  of  religion,  containing  now  170  members. 

But  we  turn  back  to  our  own  Church  edifice.  It  had  a  high 
pulpit,  approached  by  two  spiral  stairways,  and  shut  up  by  two 
doors,  which  quite  effectually  concealed  the  minister,  when  seated, 
from  all  persons  in  the  body  of  the  Church.  Its  position  was 
sixteen  feet  in  front  of  the  spot  on  which  I  now  stand.  'The  win- 
dows on  the  south  side  had  some  broken  Venetian  blinds,  and 
some  other  contrivances  to  keep  the  sun-light  from  glaring  too 
vividly  in  the  eyes  of  the  worshippers.  The  walls  were  white; 
the  galleries  unfinished.  The  Church  was  heated  by  two 
small  stoves,  standing  under  the  gallery,  some  twenty  feet  from 
the  aisle  doors.     This  house  was  enlarged  in   1850,  and  has  since 

B 


10 

been  decorated  and  improved  so  as  to  meet  the  demands  of  the 

congregation,  wont  to  assemble  here  to  worship  God. 

But  now  Ave  turn  rather  to  the  interior  history  of  this  congrega- 
tion, during  the  period  under  review;  and  meditate  on  the  works 
of  God's  hands,  and  muse  on  His  dealings  with  us. 

This  Church  has  been  organized  about  sixty  years,  and  has  en- 
joyed the  ministrations  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Snodgrass,  the  Rev.  ¥m. 
McMillan,  the  Rev.  Obadiah  Jennings,  D.  D.,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beatty, 
and  the  Rev.  E.  T.  McLain. 

On  entering  upon  my  pastoral  duties  here,  I  found  everything 
well  ordered,  and  the  congregation  well  trained,  under  the  thir- 
teen years  of  the  faithful  pastorate  of  Dr.  Beatty.  Here  I  labored 
for  many  months  without  seeing  any  results  of  my  ministry.  At 
last  I  saw  two  persons  appear  before  the  Session,  asking  for  ad- 
mission to  the  Church.  I  shall  never  forget  the  impressions  then 
made  upon  my  mind.  ]STow,  I  thought,  I  saw  evidence  that  it  was 
the  will  of  God  to  own  the  instrumentality  of  my  poor  ministra- 
tions to  save  the  souls  of  men.  The  question  whether  the  Great 
Master  would  own  my  labors  then  met  a  hopeful  solution.  I  well 
remember,  that  I  felt  solicitous  to  be  the  instrument  of  leading 
one  soul  to  Jesus,  and  often  thought  that  would  more  than  ten 
thousand  times  compensate  me  for  life-long  toil  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry.  Here  I  will  further  remark,  that  many  who  have 
been  added  to  this  Church,  during  my  pastorate,  were  evidently 
brought  to  embrace  the  Gospel  through  the  ministrations  of 
others.  God's  faithfulness  to  this  branch  of  His  planting,  has 
been  gratefully  marked.  Human  agency,  by  whomsoever  exerted, 
has  been  nothing  in  comparison  with  the  efficient  workings  of 
God's  Providence,  His  Word  and  Spirit  in  continuing  and  pros- 
pering this  portion  of  His  heritage. 

The  retrospect  shows  that  in  the  past  quarter  of  a  century  of 
marked  vicissitudes,  we  have  passed  through  seasons  of  great  dark- 
ness, when  general  declension  brought  upon  us  the  hidings  of  our 
Father's  face ;  when  open  apostacy  caused  bitter  griefs  to  many 
hearts  ;  when  the  necessary  exercise  of  discipline  seemed  to  stir 
up  the  angry  passions  of  those  whom  the  Session  desired  to  ben- 
efit, and  reclaim  by  the  use  of  this  holy  ordinance  of  God.  Many 
such  dark  days,  long  and  painful  winters  passed  over  us;  and  of- 
ten, the  question,  has  been  asked  at  the  Throne  of  Grace,  and  of 
one  another,  "is  mercy  clear  gone  forever?" 

Yet  we  here  bear  witness  to  an  important  fact,   that  generally. 


11 

after  the  painful  work  of  discipline  had  been  carried  out,  we  were 
permitted  to  Bee  tokens  of  Divine  favor,  in  the  deeper  awakening 
of  Christians,  and  the  conviction  and  conversion  of  souls.  Those 
days  of  heaviness  and  sorrow  fled  away;  those  nights  of  weeping 
were  followed  by  seasons  of  refreshing  and  merciful  visitation. 

This  fact  in  general  we  might  infer  from  what  we  behold  this 
day;  that  after  the  numerous  removals,  dismissals  and  deaths  ;  af- 
ter nearly  oue  hundred  members  have  been  dismissed  to  our  sis- 
ter Church,  in  this  city  :  and,  on  the  other  hand,  a  considerable 
number  as  the  nucleus  of  the  Cross  Creek  Church,  there  are  at 
this  time  about  seventy  members  more  than  there  were  a  quarter 
of  a  century  since. 

Shortly  anterior  to  that  period,  there  had  been  two  glorious  re- 
vivals. The  one  in  1831,  which  brought  in  from  the  world  seven- 
ty-nine members ;  the  other  in  1835,  which  added  on  a  single 
■communion  occasion,  fifty-three  on  examination.  These  refresh- 
ing seasons  have  ever  afforded  to  my  mind,  and  heart,  the  most 
cheering  evidence,  that  in  this  congregation,  God  has  had  his 
.hidden  ones  who  did  much  by  their  prayers  and  supplications,  in 
producing  some  of  these  blessed  results  which  we  have,  from  time 
to  time  witnessed,  with  tearful  interest.  We  cannot  now  attempt 
to  estimate  the  measure  of  gracious  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
which  have  sustained  his  people  here  against  so  many  adverse  in- 
fluences. Great  and  marvellous  have  been  His  acts  of  kindness 
toward  us  in  this  respect,  for  which  it  behoves  us  to  magnify  and 
bless  His  Holy  name.  But  in  the  tangible  effects  of  His  grace 
upon  those  who  were  straying  far  from  God,  in  open  rebellion, 
we  may  find  cause  this  day  gratefully  to  testify  the  wonders  of 
His  love.  I  cannot  embody  in  words  all  that  we  witnessed  in 
1838;  but  our  history  records  that  fifty-five  in  that  year  came  out 
from  the  world  and  confessed  Christ,  in  this  place.  The  ensuing 
year,  forty-nine,  in  this  presence,  took  up  their  cross  to  follow 
Christ,  and  came  with  you  to  the  table  of  the  Lord.  The  next 
year,  fifty-five.  For  several  following  years,  no  signal  manifesta- 
tions of  the  Spirit  of  God  were  witnessed,  yet  small  numbers 
were  added  to  the  Church  every  year,  till  1855,  when  we  saw,  at 
one  communion,  twenty  taking  their  seats,  for  the  first  time,  at 
the  table  of  the  Lord.  A  time  of  much  declension  and  dark- 
ness followed.  The  hearts  of  God's  people  were  greatly  discour- 
aged, and  many  seemed  ready  to  faint  under  the  adversity  of  our 
beloved  Church.     With  health  broken,  wandering  for  months  in 


a  foreign  land,  disheartened  and  scarcely  hoping  to  Bee  my  native 
country  again,  or  resume  my  ministerial  Labors,  in  the  beginning 
of  1856  I|sent  my  resignation  to  the  Session,  in  order  that  they 
might  present  it  to  the  congregation.     This,  they  in  great  kind- 

and  patience,  declined  to  accept.  In  the  course  of  that  year, 
as  most  here-,  present  will  remember,  I  resumed  my  labors,  but 
with  much  doubt  and  misgiving. 

The  year  1858  ushered  in  a  glorious  revival,  in  which  we  were 
favored  with  the  earnest,  and  profitable  ministrations  of  the  belov- 
ed McKeunan,  who  has  but  lately  gone  to  his  blessed  reward. 
That  year  we  saw  seventy-live  new  witnesses  for  Christ  joyfully 
singing, 

"  People  of  the  living  God,"  <tc. 

We  glance  over  the  statistics  of  our  past  history  with  trembling 
emotion,  1307  members  have  been  here  enrolled  in  sixty  years. 
The  portion  of  that  large  number  who  have  entered  the  church 
in  the  past  quarter  of  a  century  is  805.  Of  these,  508  were  added 
on  examination,  297  on  certificate.  I  cannot  deny  that  in  these 
results  I  find  cause  for  profound  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God, 
that  he  has  owned  such  a  sinner,  such  a  poor,  faithless,  unbeliev- 
ing laborer  in  his  vineyard,  and  permitted  him  to  see  his  life  and 
labors  connected  in  the  most  remote  manner  with  such  results. 
Far,  far,  is  it  from  my  heart  to  indulge  in  self-gratulation,  or, 
vanity.  How  wondrous  the  grace  that  can  make  clay  to  open  the 
eyes  of  the  blind !  Oh  !  how  unspeakably  more  wonderful  that 
He  should  link  his  own  mighty  workings  wTith  one  less  than  the 
least  of  all  His  servants,  and  point  to  hundreds  brought  from 
darkness  to  light  by  the  most  imperfect  ministrations.  If  these 
labors  had  been  what  they  ought  to  have  been,  what  they  might 
have  been,  how  far,  far  different  the  effects  for  the  good  of  men, 
and  the  glory  of  God.  More  than  this :  I  cannot  but  think  with 
painful  solicitude  of  my  pastorate  over  this  multitude.  How  often 
when  the  flock  should  have  been  fed  have  they  been  sent  empty 
away.  How  often  when  I  should  have  won  wayward  sinners  by 
lifting  up  the  cross,  they  have  gone  on  in  their  downward  course 
because  Christ  was  so  obscurely  set  forth.  I  confess  I  cannot  think 
of  the  revelations  of  the  last  day  without  profound  awe. 

It  may  be  that  very  many  of  those  received  on  examination, 
entered  the  church  with  a  false  hope  (alas  !  what  mournful  evi- 
dence in  the  lives  of  some)  because  they  were  not  faithfully  taught 
and  directed  in  their  religious  decisions,  because  in  our  anxiety 


18 

to  sec  thein  relieved,  and  enrolled  as  christians,  we  cried,  "peace, 
peace,  when  there  was  ao  peace/1  and  so  Left  them  for  Long  years  to 
grope  their  way  in  ruinous  darkness,  and  delusion. 

But  even  if  no  such  unhappy  consequences  may  have  followed 
our  labors  during  the  quarter  of  a  century  just  past,  yet  the  appa- 
rent sum  of  these  for  this  long  period,  reaches  but  the  measure  of 
success  allowed  at  Shotts,  to  a  young  licentiate  from  one  single 
discourse. 

I  will  not  delay  this  discussion  to  remark  upon  the  $100,000* 
that  in  the  time  named  have  gone  out  from  this  congregation,  for 
the  interests  of  religion,  through  the  various  channels  of  benevo- 
lence, yet  perhaps  not  one  half  of  the  members  of  the  church, 
have  habitually  contributed  to  these  objects,  and  those  who  did 
rarely  reached,  or,  even  approximated  the  measure  of  their  ob- 
ligations. We  may  well  rejoice  to  think  of  the  happy  effects  that 
must  follow  the  multitudinous  agencies  for  good  that  have  thus 
been  called  into  operation  ;  but  how  many  must  ultimately  mourn 
that  they  had  received  their  Lord's  money  and  buried  it  in  a 
napkin. 

Here,  we  may  glance  at  some  of  the  pleasant  things  we  call  to 
remembrance.  We  may  begin  with  the  many  acts  of  christian 
kindness  and  generosity  experienced  from  individuals,  and  the 
congregation.  How  much  these  things  have  lightened  the  bur- 
dens we  have  been  called  to  bear ! 

There  have  been  seasons  when  scores  of  the  impenitent  have 
been  awakened,  and  with  tearful  interest  have  said  to  the  session, 
"  Men,  and,  brethren,  what  shall  we  do  to  be  saved  ?"  Though 
we  had  long  mourned  that  there  was  no  dew  upon  the  moun- 
tains of  Gilboa,  and,  that  "  the  shields  of  the  mighty  were  vilely 
cast  away,"  "few  came  to  our  solemn  feasts,"  and  "the  love  of 
many  waxed  cold,"  venerable  elders,  who  have  now  gone  to  their 
"crown  of  rejoicing"  stood  here  imploring  Almighty  God,  with 
cries  and  tears,  "  that  He  would  not  cast  us  away  from  His  pres- 
ence, nor  take  His  Holy  Spirit  from  us,  that  he  would  not  aban- 
don his  heritage  to  reproach,  but  temper  the  wind  to  the  shorn 
lamb,  and  speedily  return  and  revive  his  work  with  power;" 
when  these  prayers  were  answered  and  many  found  the  wisdom 
and  power  of  God  unto  salvation ;  we  saw  with  rejoicing  and 
awe  the  tokens  of  the  Divine  Presence.     In  such  seasons,  we  say, 


This  includes  the  large  testamentary  gifts  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hans  Wilson. 


14 

our  joy  was  greatly  modified,  and,  abated  by  the  overwhelming 

sense  of  responsibility,  the  fear  of  misguiding  those  asking  instruc- 
tion and,  direction,  and  of  grieving  and  dishonoring  the  Holy 
Ghost.  Yet  even  with  all  these  abating  causes,  the  turning  of 
immortal  souls  to  Christ  for  salvation,  affords  the  pastor's  heart 
the  highest  joy,  he  is  permitted  to  realize  on  earth. 

It  is  pleasant  also  to  look  back  and  see  a  half  score,  or,  more 
going  forth  from  our  ranks,  to  preach  the  gospel  with  success  and 
power  at  home  and  abroad. 

It  is  also  pleasant  to  the  pastor's  heart  to  see  the  membership 
that  once  were  with  us,  going  to  different  and,  distant  points  of 
our  country,  and  becoming  efficient  laborers  in  planting  and  sus- 
taining other  churches. 

It  is  pleasant  to  learn  incidents,  relating  to  the  fruits  resulting 
from  personal  efforts,  or  public  ministrations,  with  transient  per- 
sons, with  whom  perhaps  there  was  scarcely  a  personal  acquaint- 
ance.    I  can  best  express  my  meaning  by  stating  two  brief  facts : 

In  a  boarding  house  on  Market  street,  long  since  displaced,  I 
called  to  see  a  sick  man.  I  was  kept  waiting  in  a  back  parlor  in 
which  sat  a  stranger,  apparently  in  delicate  health.  After  a  par- 
ley with  my  cowardly  unbelieving  heart,  I  ventured  to  speak  to 
him  "  of  the  Saviour  as  the  Great  Physician,  whose  restorative 
prescriptions  received  by  the  soul,  would  render  all  the  diseases 
of  the  body  powerless  to  harm.  However  apparently  fatal,  they  ' 
would  be  real  blessings."  Time  passed  on  :  I  had  forgotten  the 
interview,  till  I  received  from  that  stranger  on  his  dying  bed,  in 
a  distant  part  of  our  country,  a  kind'message,  informing  me  that 
he  was  dying  in  the  triumphs  of  faith,  and  that  his  thoughts 
were  first  turned  to  the  great  Redeemer  by  the  few  words  inci- 
dentally spoken  to  him  in  that  back  parlor.  Not  long  since,  in  a 
Convention  held  in  a  neighboring  city  a  minister  introduced, 
himself  to  me,  saying,  "I  perceive  you  do  not  know  me,  but  I 
have  reason  to  remember  you,  for  in  1844  I  was  attending  your 
church,  a  thoughtless  youth  ;  and  then  and  there,  I  wras  first  led 
to  the  feet  of  that  Saviour,  whom  I  now  preach  to  others."  The 
emotions  thus  produced  are  most  pleasing ;  but  at  the  same  time, 
and  in  the  same  breath  the  words  of  the  Psalmist  were  uttered 
in  my  heart,  "  Not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  Thy 
name  give  glory.'  The  instrument,  the  man,  is  a  sinner;  the 
power,  the  increase,  is  all  of  grace  divine. 

It   is    a    pleasant    remembrance,    to    see    in    the    past,    many 


15 

instances  where  God  has  owned  our  offices  in  the  house  of 
mourning,  for  the  comfort  and  encouragement  of  the  afflicted  and 
dying,  and  permitted  us  to  witness  the  triumphs  of  grace  in  expi- 
ring believers,  and  bow  down  with  weeping  circles  at  the  throne 
of  grace,  and  implore  the  sympathy,  and  the  sustaining',  and  heal- 
ing power  of  the  Man  of  Sorrows. 

But  as  night,  and  day,  clouds,  and  sunshine,  winter,  and  sum- 
mer alternate  in  the  natural  world,  even  so  in  the  pastor's  expe- 
rience, there  are  sad  and  mournful  memories  alternating  with 
the  seasons  of  pleasing  interest,  and  agreeable  incidents.. 
Though  no  schism,  or,  division,  ever,  has  taken  place  in 
the  congregation,  no  alienation  or,  party  strifes  in  the  Ses- 
sion ;  but  on  the  contrary  great  harmony  of  feeling,  and  unity 
of  counsel  have  prevailed ;  yet  at  times  there  have  been  separa- 
tions and  unchristian  hostilities  among  brethren,  that  cost 
many  an  unavailing  effort  for  reconciliation,  and  in  wounding  the 
Church,  were  deeply  wounding  to  the  Pastor's  heart,  but  the  all- 
controling  Hand  of  the  Chief  Shepherd,  found  times,  and  ways 
for  the  removal  of  these  evils  not  in  the  reach  of  man's  wisdom. 
This  day  I  verily  believe  this  congregation  is  freer  from  all  those 
petty  and  painful  heart-burnings,  and  strifes,  than  at  any  time  of 
the  twenty-five  years  gone  by. 

Another  mournful  fact  this  day  called  to  remembrance  is  that 
we  have  received  members  into  the  Church  writh  joy  and  hope, 
who  ran  wrell  for  a  time,  but  subsequently  fell  away  into  criminal 
neglect  and  open  apostacy.  The  trial  of  such  occurrences  comes 
with  the  most  distressing  effect  upon  a  Pastor's  spirit,  who  had 
comforted  his  soul  writh  the  hope  that  his  labors  were  divinely 
blest,  and,  his  prayers  answered,  in  their  conversion  to  God.  The 
thought  of  the  terrible  doom  the  unhappy  apostate  brings  upon 
himself  is  a  heart-rending'  theme  for  a  Pastor's  meditations. 

I  have  seen  the  young  man  awakened,  and  inquiring  the  wray 
of  salvation,  and  I  have  knelt  with  him  in  earnest  prayer  for  his 
conversion  ;  but  he  went  away,  and  grieved  the  Spirit,  and,  hard- 
ened his  heart;  and  I  have  been  called  to  his  bedside  years  after- 
wards when  his  melancholy  condition  of  hopeless  impenitence  fil- 
led me  with  sorrow.  I  sawT  him  sinking,  and,  death  approaching, 
and  at  the  intervals  when  reason  resumed  its  throne,  I  sought  to 
point  him  to  Christ,  but  in  another  moment  he  would  again  break 
out  in  wild  incoherent  ravings,  and 30  he  passed  away,  per- 


16 

haps  bis  very  last  words  that  fell  upon  his  Pastor's  ear  were  such 
as  I  pray  God  I  may  never  hear  again. 

I  have  also  been  made  to  mourn  when  in  the  chamber  of  sick- 
ness I  have  witnessed  what  seemed  to  be  a  turning  to  God  for  par- 
don, and,  salvation ;  the  prayers,  and  hopes,  and  eestacies  of  the 
sufferers,  as  they  appeared  to  approach  the  grave,  made 
many  to  rejoice,  but  alas!  how  often  have  we  mourned  to 
see  such  when  recovered,  and  again  engrossed  in  life's 
busy  pursuits  or  pleasures,  as  utterly  hardened  and  careless,  and 
negligent  of.  their  souls,  as  ever  before.  Such  experiences  have 
made  us  tremble  at  the  final  issues  in  the  case  of  those  who  have 
departed  to  the  judgment  bar  with  nothing  but  a  death-bed  repen- 
tance, to  afford  us  any  hope  of  their  salvation. 

I  have  seen  the  young  man  of  fortune,  and,  family;  amiable  in 
deportment,  attractive  and  lovely  in  his  person,  and  fascinating  in 
his  manners,  but  the  fatal  cup  turned  him  away  from  the  precepts 
of  piety  inculcated  by  pious  parents,  and  friends ;  from 
the  Church  of  God,  and  the  Cross  of  Christ  and  precipitated 
him  into  a  premature  grave.  I  will  not  say  how  often  these 
mournful  occurrences  have  been  substantially  repeated  within  the 
quarter  of  a  century  past ;  I  well  may  say  they  have  infused  into 
the  cup  of  my  sadness  many  a  bitter  ingredient. 

Again, — It  has  often  been  the  duty  of  the  Session  to  employ  the 
discipline  of  the  Church  in  some  cases  with  the  most  salutary  and 
happ}'  results,  but  in  many  other  cases  discipline  has  signally 
failed,  to  reclaim  and  restore,  the  erring,  and  the  straying  mem- 
ber, and  others  arraying  themselves  against  the  authorities  of  the 
Church,  have  greatly  pained,  and  distressed  us  by  their  untoward 
course.  But  over  such  memories  we  wish  to  draw  a  veil,  seeing 
that  an  All-wise  and  All-constraining  Providence  has  made  the 
wrath  of  man  to  praise  Him,  and  the  remainder  He  has  restrained. 

The  only  other  class  of  mournful  remembrances  we  name  re- 
lates to  the  partings  with  many  removing  out  of  our  midst,  who 
had  long  been  co-laborer8  ;  again,  and,  again  it  seemed  as  though 
we  should  be  broken  up  for  the  want  of  their  aid,  and  co-opera- 
tion; after  all  we  saw  our  fears  were  groundless. 

But  how  often  have  we  been  called  to  weep  with  those  who 
weep  in  the  house  of  mourning.  It  actually  startles  me  now  when 
I  walk  certain  streets  and  can  scarcely  find  a  house  into  which  I 
have  not  been  called,  when  the  significant  badges  at  the  threshold 
told  of  lamentation  within,  because  the  King  of  terrors  had  been 


17 

there.     I  now  caunot  tell  how  many  hundreds  of  the  members  of 
this  Church,  I  have  visited  in  sickness  and  death,  and,  followed 
to  the  grave.     I  find  upon  the  first  three  pages  of  the  catalogue  of 
Church  members,  put  in  my  hands  when  I  became  your  Pastor, 
nearly  three  scores  have  gone  down  from  these  familiar  pews  to 
their  enduring  homes  in  "the  house  appointed  for  all  living."  Of 
the  four  deacons  who  stood  recorded  in  that  catalogue,  none  re- 
mains in  the  board,  and  only  two  are  yet  living.     Of  the  elder- 
ship, six  in  number,  just  one  half  are  this  day  in  the  Church  tri- 
umphant, and  one  half  in  the  Church  militant.     Nearly  twenty 
years  ago  James  G.  Hening  removed  to  Missouri  and  there  died. 
He  was  an  eminently  pious  man  of  blessed  memory;  his  walks 
were  amid  the  dwellings  of  the  poor,  and  the  habitations  of  sor- 
row and  affliction ;  he  was  full  of  Christian  sympathy,  and  kind- 
ness ;  fervent  in  prayer,  faithful  in  duty,  and  known,  and  loved 
by  all  the  people.     In  the  year  1847  David  Hoge,  and  Jeremiah 
Hallock  were  taken  from  us  to  their  rest,  and  reward  in  Heaven. 
Both  were  revered  and  beloved  in  their  office  as  Elders,  and  in 
their  characters  as  citizens,  universally  esteemed.     The  former, 
diffident,  retiring,  profoundly  pious,  eminently  accomplished  in 
literature,  an  able  theologian,  a  warm  friend,  a  faithful  counsellor, 
and,  a  Christian  gentleman ;  his  memory  is  this  day  embalmed  in 
the  hearts  of  many  who  knew  him,  and  yet  survive  him.     The 
latter,  the  sage,  reticent  Hallock  who  was  originally  designed  by 
his  father,  and,  educated  for  the  ministry ;  and  when  he  preferred 
the  law,  and  left  his  New  England  home  for  the  West,  received 
that  father's  last  greetings  in  these  words,    "Jeremiah,  as  you 
have  failed  yourself  to  be  a  minister,  I  charge  you  now  that  you 
shall  ever  be  the  minister's  friend."    I  may  safely  say  of  that  good 
man  now  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus,  that  he  never  forgot  nor  neglected 
his  father's  injunction.     These  good  men  and,  true  are  all  gone, 
sorrowful  to  us,  was  the  day  of  their  departure,  for  to  us  they 
seemed  as  "the  chariots  of  Israel,  and  the  horsemen  thereof;"  we 
trembled  for  the  ark  when  such  counsellors,  and  intercessors  were 
removed>    But  our  apprehensions  were  without  foundation,  it  is 
the  Lord,  and  not  man  who  keeps  and  defends  His  blood-bought 
church.     They  who  were  so  long  with  us  in  our  trials,  and,  con- 
flicts, as  well  as  in  times  of  refreshing  to-day  are, 

" — saints  above,, how  great  their  joyg. 
How  bright  their  glories  be.  " 

As  we  well  know, 

C 


18 

'•  Once  they  were  mourning  here  below; 

And  wet  their  couch  with  tears; 
They  wrestled  hard  as  wo  do  now, 

With  sine  and  doubts  and  feara. 
We  ask  them  whence  their  victory  came  ? 

They  with  united  breath 
Ascribe  their  conquest  to  the  Lamb,    ■ 

Their  triumph  to  His  death.  " 

Three  of  the  original  bench  of  elders  are  yet  with  us.  A.  J. 
McDowell,  Daniel  Potter,  and,  ¥m.  McLaughlin,  who  I  am  sure 
will  heartily  respond  to  all  that  I  have  said  in  relation  to  their 
departed  brethren,  and  who  are  all  this  day  looking  with  joyful 
hope  to  a  blessed  re-union  with  their  former  companions,  and 
cherished  friends,  beyond  the  portals  of  the  skies. 

Here,  I  may  turn  your  attention  to  a  few  matters,  that  have  been 
made  patent  to  my  experience  and  observation,  as  a  pastor. 

First,  That  a  church  made  up  of  an  imperfect  pastor,  an  imper- 
fect session,  and  an  imperfect  membership,  must  necessarily 
develope  many  imperfections  in  its  workings.  Yet  this  is  the 
sort  of  organization,  God  has  chosen  for  the  diffusion  of  His  re- 
ligion in  our  sin-ruined  world.  He  hath  committed  the  glorious, 
priceless  treasure  of  the  Gospel  to  earthen  vessels  that  the  excel- 
lency of  the  power  might  be  everywhere  seen  and  known  to  be  of 
God  and  not  of  man. 

I  have  learned  that  even  the  best  of  men  have  their  seasons  of 
passion,  prejudice,  and,  perversity;  yet  after  all,  time, gentleness, 
and  kindness  bring  them  like  the  needle  after  the  electrical  storm, 
to  resume  the  heavenward  bearings  of  righteousness,  and  truth. 
I  have  seen  excellent  men,  amid  excitement,  quitting  their  pew8 
and,  abandoning  their  places,  with  menaces  and  prophecies,  yet 
those  very  men  I  have  seen  in  the  Church  consistently  pursuing 
their  duty,  I  have  been  with  them  at  their  own  request  in  sickness 
and  death  ;  and  of  that  class  yet  living,  I  number  some  of  my 
warmest  personal  friends. 

I  have  learned  not  to  give  up  hope  when  the  night  is  dark,  the 
storm  lowering,  and  the  vessel  rudely  tost  by  conflicting  winds. 
Our  Father  is  at  the  helm,  "  Weeping  may  endure  for  a  night, 
but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning."  "We  may  safely  rely"on  Him, 
who  reigns  above  the  clouds,  and  "rides  upon  the  storm,  "  to  see 
to  it,  that  whatever  becomes  of  ministers,  or  elders,  rich  men,  or 
poor  men,  wicked  men,  or,  devils,  "the  gates  of  Hell "  shall  never 
prevail  against  any  single  body  of  believers,  "  built  upon  the  foun- 
dation of  the  Apostles,  and,  Prophets,  Jesus  Christ,  himself  being 
the  chief  corner  stone.  " 


19 

I  nave  learned  that  secret  and  open  devices  of  malignant  pei 
sons,  and  misrepresentation  and  direct  falsehood,  will  not  long 
have  the  power  to  do  harm  ;  they  fail  of  their  end,  bring  their 
authors  to  confusion,  and,  sometimes  to  sorrow.  God  preserves 
his  servants  despite  their  own  weakness,  blindness  and  ignorance, 
and  by  His  hidden  shield  turns  away  all  that  else  would  prove  inju- 
rious, or,  disastrous  to  the  reputation,  and,  usefulness  of  his 
servants.  Surely  "  God  is  a  Sun  and  Shield,"  and  none  need  fear 
for  safety  who  put  their  trust  in  Him.  "  No  good  thing  will  He 
withhold  from  them  that  walk  uprightly.  " 

I  have  also  learned  that  there  are  often  wrapped  up  in  the  ad- 
verse and  appalling  providences  of  God,  the  richest  blessings  He 
is  wont  to  bestow  upon  the  children  of  men. 

From  looking  at  the  past,  we  turn  for  a  moment  to  the  present 
and,  the  future.  Here  am  I  to-day  as  I  never  was  before,  at  the 
end  of  a  continuous  ministry  of  twenty-five  years.  It  is  morally 
certain  that  such  an  occasion  will  never  return  to  me  on  earth, 
just  as  now  those  years  are  gone,  and  all  their  issues  for  good,  or, 
evil  are  sealed,  so  the  entire  limit  of  my  service  will  soon  all 
be  past,  and  I  shall  enter  upon  the  review,  not  by  the  light  of  dim 
memory,  but  by  the  light  of  Eternity  around  the  Throne. 

I  see  some  to  whom  I  have  offered  the  Gospel  of  Christ  for  the 
period  almost  sufficient  to  bound  a  generation,  they  have  still  re- 
jected Him ;  I  confess  I  greatly  fear  that  their  decision  is  unalter- 
ably made.  If  so,  how  much  of  that  result  lies  chargeable  to  my 
account  ? 

This  day,  I  believe  a  great  number,  who  once  occupied  these 
seats,  are  seated  around  "the  Great  White  Throne."  What 
views,  what  experiences,  what  teachings,  what  joys  are  theirs  !  I 
cannot  but  look  onward  a  little  when  those  of  us  who  remain, 
shall  all  be  gone,  a  stranger's  voice  shall  here,  herald  the  Gospel 
tidings,  and  a  great  congregation  of  strangers  shall  fill  these  pews, 
and,  hear,  and  believe,  repent  and  drink  of  the  fountain  of  the 
Water  of  Life  and  be  saved. 

Where,  then,  shall  we  be,  who  celebrate  this  quarter  centennial 
anniversary  ?  We  shall  lie  in  our  graves,  our  spirits  shall  be  with 
our  Saviour,  and  our  friends  above,  or,  "  reserved  in  everlasting 
chains  under  darkness  unto  the  judgment  of  the  great  day.  " 

For  twenty-five  years  gone,  we  give  thanks  to  God ;  its  mem- 
ories, its  record,  its  history,  demand  our  praise.  Oh,  as  now  we 
see  the  last  year  of  this  eventful  period,  its  history  is  written  in 


20 

fratricidal  blood.  But  if  we  come  up  at  the  great  reckoning  day, 
without  Christ,  deceived  by  false  hopes,  or  taking  the  awful 
hazard  of  His  open  rejection,  what  lines  will  be  dark  enough  to 
trace  our  calamities?  Shall  we  find  blood-guiltiness  charged 
against  us,  not  indeed,  fraternal  blood,  but  the  blood  of  Christ 
trampled  under  foot.  May  God  forbid !  Nay  rather,  my  brethren, 
let  us  draw  the  veil  when  all  our  sorrows  shall  be  ended,  our  last 
sigh  heaved,  our  latest  tear  wiped  away,  our  last  pain  of  body, 
and,  spirit  assuaged;  when,  as  a  Church,  and,  congregation, 
those  below  and  those  above,  with  Pastor,  elders  and  people,  shall 
meet  and  dwell  together;  where  Christ  is,  and  the  spirits  of  just 
men  made  perfect,  the  General  Assembly,  and  Church  of  the  first 
born,  whose  names  are  written  in  Heaven. 

Then,  indeed,  all  our  years  below  will  be  gone;  "gone  like 
some  small  star  that  has  been  twinkling  in  the  curtain  of  night, 
gone,  like  the  dying  cadence  of  distant  minstrelsy  as  it  vanishes 
into  air,  gone,  like  the  word  just  spoken,  never  to  be  recalled,  gone, 
like  the  clouds  after  the  rain,  gone,  like  the  leaves  of  the  autumn 
forest,  gone,  as  yesterday  is  gone,"  never,  never,  never  to  return. 

But  of  that  congregation,  none  shall  be  removed,  none  shall  be 
offended,  none  disciplined  for  offences;  none  shall  sicken,  or, 
sigh  or,  weep,  none  shall  sin,  nor  suffer  and  none  die ;  but  with 
unwearied  voices,  and  untiring  strains,  from  hearts  overflowing 
with  soul-satisfying,  eternal,  growing  joy,  we  shall  ascribe,  "Sal- 
vation to  our  God,"  even,  "blessing,  and  honor,  and  glory  and 
power,  unto  Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  Throne  and  unto  the 
Lamb,  forever,  and,  ever,"  Amen. 


PROCEEDINGS* 

OF  THE 

ANNIVERSARY    MEETING 

INCLUDING   ADDRESSES 

by 

REV.  DR.  BEATTY.  AND  REV.  A.  M.  REID. 


On  Sabbath,  the  17th  of  November,  it  was  just  twenty-five 
years,  since  the  Rev.  Dr.  Comingo  began  his  ministrations  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  Steubenville,  and  the  interesting 
occasion  was  celebrated  in  a  becoming  manner. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation,  previously,  it  had  been  "  Re- 
solved that  we  celebrate  the  Quarter  Centennial  Anniversary  of 
the  relation  of  Dr.  H.  G.  Comingo,  as  Pastor  of  our  Church,  and 
that  we  extend  an  invitation  to  the  ministers  of  all  the  Evangelical 
Churches,  and  to  the  congregation  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church."  The  congregation  of  the  Second  Church  united  with 
the  First  in  all  the  exercises  of  the  occasion. 

On  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath,  Dr.  Comingo  preached 
to  a  very  crowded  house,  the  discourse  which  is  now  pub- 
lished. Dr.  Beatty,  the  predecessor  of  Dr.  Comingo,  as  Pastor  of 
the  First  Presbyteriau  Church,  had  been  invited  by  the  Session  to 
fill  the  pulpit  in  the  evening,  but  was  prevented  from  being 
present,  by  indisposition.  The  Rev.  J.  B.  Patterson,  of  the  Second 
Church,  preached,  instead,  an  admirable  sermon  from  the  text, 
"No  man  liveth  to  himself." 

In  continuance  of  the  exercises  of  this  joyful  occasion,  a  meet- 
ing was  appointed  to  be  held  in  the  First  Church,  on  the  Tuesday 

*  This  account  of  the  Anniversary  is  prepared  chiefly  from  an  article  published  in  the 
newspapers  at  the  time. 


22 

evening  following.  When  the  appointed  hour  had  arrived,  the 
house  was  filled  with  a  deeply  interested  audience,  the  clergy  of 
the  place  occupying  seats  about  the  pulpit. 

The  exercises  were  opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Abbott, 
of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Beatty  then 
introduced  the  proceedings,  by  referring  to  the  action  of  the 
congregation  ;  and  after  speaking  of  the  advantages  of  long  pas- 
torates, bore  strong  testimony  to  the  great  excellence  of  Dr. 
Comingo  as  a  preacher,  a  pastor,  and  a  brother  greatly  beloved  ; 
— somewhat  as  follows  : 

ABSTRACT  OF  REMARKS  BY  DR.  BEATTY. 

This  is  a  rare,  as  well  as  interesting  occasion,  upon  which  we 
are  met  this  evening.  The  purpose  is  to  celebrate  the  twenty-fifth 
anniversary,  of  the  entrance  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Comingo,  upon  his 
ministerial  labors,  in  this  congregation.  Such  occasions  should 
not  be  rare,  according  to  the  good  old  Presbyterian  usage  of 
making  the  pastoral,  like  the  marriage,  relation,  to  be  one  for  life, 
But  from  some  cause,  perhaps  the  influence  of  our  Methodist 
brethren,  who  continually  change  the  location  of  ministers,  or 
from  the  restlessness  of  the  age  in  which  we  live ; — this  good 
old  custom  is  so  much  out  of  fashion,  that  a  minister  seldom 
continues  twenty-five  years  in  the  same  congregation.  This  is  to 
be  deplored,  according  to  my  opinion,  whose  views  on  the  perma- 
nency of  the  pastoral  relation,  are  pretty  well  known  to  most  of 
you.  There  are  advantages  in  the  continued  labors  of  a  minister 
among  the  same  people,  where  children  grow  up  to  maturity 
under  his  instructions,  which  cannot  be  compensated  by  any 
either  fancied  or  real  advantages  of  rotation.  Such,  however,  is 
the  fondness  for  change,  both  with  ministers  and  Churches,  that 
we  are  not  often  permitted  to  note  such  an  event,  as  the  quarter 
century  anniversary  of  a  pastorate.  It  speaks  well  then  for  both 
pastor  and  people  that  this  relation  has  been  so  long  maintained  ; 
and  the  interest  of  this  season  is  equally  creditable  to  both.  I 
congratulate  them  upon  it.  Nor  is  this  peculiar  to  this  congre- 
gation ;  as  it  seems  a  trait  in  the  character  of  the  community,  (I 
speak  it  to  their  praise,)  that  it  is  not  given  to  change.  My  ex- 
cellent brother  here,  the  Rector  of  St.  Paul's,  (Dr.  Morse,)  has 
been  such,  more  than  forty  years; — it  is  not  very  long  since  the 
Pastor  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  was  carried  to  his  grave, 
after  a  continued  pastorate  of  upwards  of  forty  years  ;  and  I  trust 


23 

that  his  worthy  successor  may  as  long  occupy  the  same  place. 
Even  the  Methodist  Churches,  so  far  as  their  rules  will  admit, 
have  showed  the  same  inclination. 

When  I  came  among  you,  almost  forty  years  ago,  it  was  with 
no  other  expectation  than  that  my  relation  as  Pastor  would 
last  through  life;  but  God  ordered  it  differently.  When  this 
brother  entered  upon  his  labors  in  my  place,  how  very  little  did 
I  think  that  I  should  live  to  see  even  half  as  many  years  elapse. 
But  I  rejoice  and  thank  God  that  it  is  so,  and  that  I  am  privileged 
to  unite  with  you  on  this  pleasant  occasion — offering  our  mutual 
congratulations.  We  have  been  permitted  to  enjoy  each  others 
society  in  close  and  intimate  relations,  and  have  labored  long  and 
delightfully  together,  without  a  serious  jar  or  misunderstanding 
to  interrupt  our  mutual,  Christian  and  ministerial  intercourse.  I 
must  think  it  evidence  of  unusual  kindness  and  amiability  that 
he  could  have  so  long  forborne  with  one  conscious  of  so  many  im- 
perfections and  errors. 

His  labors  among  you  in  preaching  faithfully  and  earnestly  the 
Word: — in  pastoral  visitation,  and  other  good  works,  you  all 
know  as  well  as  I  do  ;  but  none  of  you  can  know,  as  well  as  I, 
the  deep  anxieties  of  his  mind,  and  his  fervent  desire  for  your 
spiritual  and  eternal  good. — If  the  brother  was  not  present  I 
might  be  induced  to  say  more  concerning  him : — but  you  know  it 
is  not  my  wont  to  praise  or  compliment, — especially  in  the 
presence  of  the  object. 

And  now  it  is  well  and  fitting  that  this  Church  and  congrega- 
tion have  prepared  a  suitable  testimonial  for  their  Pastor  on  this 
occasion ;  and  with  these  few  prefatory  remarks,  I  give  way  to 
that  member  of  the  Session,  who  is  charged  with  this  matter,  and 
as  I  understand  is  ready  to  make  the  presentation. 

Mr.  B.  Drennen,  on  behalf  of  the  officers  and  congregation  of 
the  First  Church,  then  presented  to  Dr.  Comingo  a  purse  of  gold 
and  a  handsome  suit  of  clothes,  as  a  testimonial  of  their  love  to 
him,  and  t"heir  gratitude  to  him  for  his  abundant  and  faithful  la- 
bors, since  he  had  been  their  Pastor. 

"The  Dr.,  in  accepting  the  gift,  said  that  he  had  generally,  been  a  'Looker-on  in 
Vienna,'  and  he  now  found  that  to  be  "  the  observed  of  all  observers,"  was  rather  a  sore  trial 
to  his  modesty.  He  said  that  while  he  felt  conscious  that  he  had  ever  sought  them  and  not 
theirs — the  flock  and  not  the  Jkece — yet  this  evening  he  suddenly  found  himself  in  possession 
of  the  fleece,  and  that  the  finest  of  the  wool ;  nay  more,  without  becoming  an  Argonaut, 
he  found  himself  in  possession  of  the  golden  fleece.  He  felt  that  there  were  circumstances 
in  which  even  St.  Paul  would  acknowledge  that  it  '  is  a  great  thing  that  we  should  reap 
your  carnal  things  '  when  it  betokens  so  clearly  the  good  feeling  and  affection  of  a  grate- 
ful people  to  their  pastor  ;  if  a  cup  of  cold  water  given  to  a  disciple  in  the  name  of  n 
disciple  should  not  be  without  its  reward,  then  their  reward  was  sure." 


24 

Several  short  addresses  were  now  made.  Rev.  J.  B.  Patterson, 
of  the  Second  Church,  said  he  and  his  wife  (the  Second  Church) 
had  come  back  to  spend  a  pleasant  evening  with  their  mother. 
(The  Second  Church  was  a  colony  from  the  First  Church.)  It 
was  delightful  to  them,  on  this  occasion  of  joy  and  gladness,  to 
meet  once  more  at  the  old  family  hearth.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Andrews, 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Christian, 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  also  made  addresses  appropriate  to  the 
occasion. 

Professor  Reid,  of  the  Steubenville  Female  Seminary,  gave  a 
pleasant  reminiscence  of  his  first  meeting  with  Dr.  Comingo,  in 
remarks  as  follows,  at  the  close  presenting  Dr.  C.  with  a  little 
bouquet  of  "wild  flowers,  gathered  by  himself  on  Mt.  Blanc : 

REMARKS  OF  PROF.  REID. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1855, 1  spent  a  long-to-be-remembered  Sabbathin  the  Vale 
of  Chamouni,  in  Switzerland.  Toward  eventide  I  walked  out  to  worship  in  Nature's  Ca- 
thedral. Scarcely  a  cloud  was  to  be  seen  in  the  clear  sky.  And  Mt.  Blanc  and  the  granite 
spires  of  his  range  and  the  glaciers  at  his  feet,  were  all  out  in  their  glory.  I  ascended  the 
Flegerc  a  celebrated  mountain  opposite  Mt.  Blanc,  a  few  thousand  feet,  for  a  better  view. 
About  midway  up,  I  saw  a  stranger  whom  I  took  to  be  an  American,  whose  face  and  mien 
greatly  pleased  me.  He  was  gazing  intently  on  the  scene  before  us,  and  seemed  to  be 
entirely  absorbed  in  the  contemplation.  I  saw  his  thoughts  were  in  the  same  channel  with 
my  own,  and  I  ventured'to  address  him.  "  Can  an  Atheist,"  said  he,  "  look  upon  such 
scenes  as  these  and  be  an  Atheist  still  ?  Can  he  look  upon  these  mountains  and  not  see  the 
hand  of  God,  who  piled  them  thus  ?  "  So  the  interesting  stranger  went  on,  directing  our 
thoughts  through  Nature  up  to  Nature's  God.  Right  before  us  was  the  great  white  dome 
of  Mt.  Blanc,  rising  from  his  silent  Sea  of  Pines.    And 

"  Mt.  Blanc  is  the  Monarch  of  Mountains, 

They  crowned  him  long  ago 
On  a  throne  of  rocks,  in  a  robe  of  clouds, 
With  a  diadem  of  snow." 
And  our  thoughts  ascended  from  the  snow-crowned  mountain  to  the  great  white  throne 
which  it  suggests  and  Him  who  sat  on  it,  from  whose  face  the  earth  and  the  heavens  fled 
away.  And  those  thousand  spires  of  granite,  glittering  in  the  sun-light,  around  the  mighty 
dome  of  Mt.  Blanc — piercing  far,  far,  into  the  deep  blue  of  the  sky,  carried  our  thoughts  at 
once  to  the  glittering  spires  of  that  Celestial  City,  whose  walls  are  jasper  and  whose  streets 
are  gold.  And  the  grand  glacier,  with  its  sheen  of  light,  right  in  front  of  us,  reminded  us 
of  that  other  "Sea  of  glass  mingled  with  fire."  And  a3  we  looked,  and  listened  to  the 
voices  of  Nature,  and  worshipped  ;  as  Nature's  music  came  to  our  ear  from  pine-grove 
and  cataract,  "  like  some  sweet  beguiling  melody,"  we  could  almost  fancy  them  standing 
on  this  sea  of  glass  too,  "  having  the  harps  of  God  and  singing  the  song  of  Moses  and  the 
Lamb,"  saying,  "  Great  and  marvellous  are  thy  works,  Lord,  God  Almighty."  And  the 
crystal  river  (the  Arveiron,)  that  flows  out  from  the  foot  of  the  sea  of  ice — the  great  glacier 
that  lies  in  the  lap  of  the  Monarch,  reminded  us  of  the  pure  river  of  Water  of  Life  that 
proceeds  from  the  throne  of  God  and  tho  Lamb,  and  we  felt  that  "  Earth  with  her 
thousand  voices  praises  God." 

With  such  glorious  views  before  us,  with  such   high  thoughts  and   holy  contemplations 
we  descended,  the  stranger  and  I,  from  the  mountain  Bad  felt  that  life  swells  into  grandeur 


25 

when  diguified  by  recollections  pf  such  scenes.  And  ere  we  readied  the  little  village  that 
nestles  at  the  foot  of  Mt.  Blanc,  I  felt  that  I  had  found  in  that  far  off  land  a  Christian 
friend  and  Christian  brother.  That  friend  was  he  whom  we  honor  to  night.  That  brother 
was  the  beloved  Pastor  of  this  Church. 

I  hold  in  my  hand  a  very  little  bouquet  of  Alpine  flowers — flowers  plucked,  by  my  own 
hand,  from  the  side  of  Mt.  Blanc,  and  I  beg,  Sir,  your  acceptance  of  this  little  offering  as 
a  memorial  of  our  first  meeting  on  the  top  of  the  Alps,  and  as  a  very  slight  token  of  my 
high  esteem  for  you  as  a  Christian  gentleman  and  a  Christian  minister,  an  esteem  which 
1  assure  you  continues  to  increase  with  every  passing  year,  And  may  I  not  hope  that  this 
little  bunch  of  flowers  will  be  a  pledge  that  our  friendship,  begun  in  a  far-off  land  and  now 
cemented  by  Christian  love,  will  extend  into  that  other  far-off  land  from  which  no  traveler 
returns. 

Dr.  Comingo  said,  in  reply,  "that  he  had  a  very  vivid  recollec- 
tion of  the  day,  and,  scene  so  eloquently  described  by  his  friend 
the  Professor.  He  greatly  appreciated  the  kind  spirit  which  dic- 
tated the  words  just  spoken.  He  would  keep  these  flowers  as  a 
precious  memento  of  a  very  pleasant  incident  in  his  life.  He 
thanked  very  heartily  all  the  friends  who  had  so  often  shown  him 
kindness.  God  would  reward  them.  He  felt  that  "he  had  borne  the 
heat  and  burthen  of  the  day," 'that  the  shadows  were  lengthening  and  the 
quiet  evening  teas  coming,  but  he  could  look  forward  with  hope,  nay 
with  joy,  to  the  hour,  when  he  should  be  re-united  to  some  who 
had  gone  before,  and  should  be  ready  to  welcome  those  who 
came  after." 

After  the  singing  of  a  grand  anthem,  in  fine  style,  by  the  Choirs 
of  the  two  Churches  ;  the  assembly  was  dismissed  with  the  Ben- 
ediction by  Dr.  Morse,  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  But 
this  was  not  the  conclusion  of  the  affair.  The  whole  assembly 
adjourned  to  a  large  hall  in  the  city,  to  partake  of  a  magnificent 
supper,  which  had  been  prepared  by  the  ladies  of  the  First  Church. 
Probably  eight  hundred  people  partook  of  the  supper.  It  was 
really  a  joyous  and  happy  occasion.  The  Pastor's  heart  was  re- 
freshed by  so  many  cheering  evidences  of  affection  :  he  felt 
strengthened  for  his  future  work,  and  the  hearts  of  his  people 
were  knit  to  him  in  closer  bonds  than  ever.  Long  will  it  be  re- 
membered with  pleasure,  by  all  those  who  participated  in  it, 


D 


It  is  with  the  greatest  hesitation,  and  reluctance,  that  these  last  sermons,  of  Mr. 
Comingo's  last  earthly  Sabbath  are  permitted,  in  their  fragmentary,  and,  imperfect  state, 
to  see  the  light ;  and  they  are  only  yielded  to  the  affectionate  urgency  of  a  sorrowing 
people,  and  in  the  remembrance  that  he  ever  held  his  own  reputation,  subordinate,  to  th» 
good  of  men,  and  the  glory  of  God.  Mr.  Comingo  rarely  wrote  out  his  discourses  with 
completeness,  and  always  with  abbreviations  which  others  understand  with  difficulty,  the 
following  ones,  from  the  fatal  but  unsuspected  disease  of  the  chest,  which  made  writing 
irksome,  and  the  premonitions  of  his  own  heart  which  led  him  to  depend  on  the  inspiration 
of  the  moment,  are  marked  examples  of  this.  The  greatest  care  has  been  taken  to  pre- 
serve his  own  expressions,  even  when  ambiguous,  or  mutilated,  rather  than  desecrate  them 
by  the  shaping  of  another  pen.  The  whole  speak  plainly,  that  the  hand,  that  wrote  but 
did  not  correct,  is  in  the  dust. 


TWO   SERMONS: 

BEING    THE    LAST    DELIVERED 

BY  THE 

EEV.  DR.  HENEY  G.  COMINGO, 

Sabbath    Morning   and   Evening,   November  24th,  1861. 


"Peace  be  unto  you." — John  20 ■':  19. 

This  was  a  common  form  of  oriental  salutation,  at  meeting,  or, 
parting  ;  and  like  our  own  terms  "good-bye,"  "farewell,"  its  pro- 
fessed import,  was  good-will,  kindly  interest  in,  and  prayer  for, 
the  welfare  of  the  person  addressed.  Often,  however,  these  are 
the  merest,  idlest,  emptiest  forms,  that  fall  from  the  lips  only, 
without  a  response  in  the  heart.  But  they  are  not  always  a 
thoughtless  utterance.  That  Mother  who  says  "  farewell,"  as  she 
presses  to  her  heart  for  the  last  time,  the  son  who  is  hastening  to 
the  vessel,  that  will  put  a  hemisphere  between  them,  means  it  all. 
And  here  that  beautiful  salutation,  "Peace  be  unto  you,"  from 
Him  "who  spake  as  never  man  spake"  expresses  more  than 
Mother's  heart  with  all  its  overflowing  tenderness  can  feel,  more 
than  the  human  understanding  can  comprehend. 


27 

What  a  day  was  that  first  day  of  the  week  which  dawned  so 
many  centuries  ago  upon  the  ancient  city  of  Jerusalem !  What  a 
day  of  days  to  be  remembered  while  the  world  stands,  as  the  day 
spring  of  joy,  and  salvation  for  ruined  man.  The  early  dawn  of 
that  day  presents  to  our  view  the  Lord  of  Glory,  bursting  the  bars 
of  death,  conquering  our  last  enemy,  leaving  the  grave  triumph- 
antly, and  becoming  "the  first  fruits"  of  them  that  slept,  saying, 
"I  will  ransom  them  from  the  power  of  the  grave  ;  I  will  redeem 
them  from  death ;  0  death,  I  will  be  they  plagues,  0  grave,  I  will 
be  thy  destruction." 

The  sorrowing  women  "came  very  early  in  the  morning" 
"when  it  was  yet  dark"  to  the  sepulchre  to  perform  the  last  offices 
for  the  lifeless  form  of  Him  they  loved,  and  were  followed  by 
Peter  and  John,  they  found  the  tomb  untenanted  by  Him  they 
sought,  and  wondering  and  perplexed  at  the  angelic  vision,  "had 
gone  away  again  unto  their  own  home,"  Mary  remaining  at  the 
sepulchre  weeping,  then  Jesus  made  Himself  known  to  her,  and 
honored  her  with  a  message  to  His  disciples.  That  same  day  saw 
Him  walking  with  two  of  the  disciples  to  Emmaus  rebuking  them 
as  "  slow  of  heart  to  believe  all  that  the  Prophets  had  spoken," 
uttering  that  emphatic  interrogatory,  never  to  be  forgotten  by  one 
sinner  saved  by  grace,  "  Ought  not  Christ  to  have  suffered  these 
things  and  to  enter  into  His  glory?"  and  then  expounding  and 
illustrating  the  teachings  of  Moses  and  all  the  Prophets,  and 
showing  their  direct  application  to  Himself. 

That  evening  He  came  to  the  city  whence  He  had  gone  out  in 
the  morning,  and  sought  the  secluded  chamber  where  the  disciples 
were  met  with  doors  closed  to  keep  the  hostile,  and  persecuting 
Jews  from  malignantly  intruding  to  overhear  their  conversation, 
or,  disturb  their  worship.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  the  thrilling 
emotions  of  that  company  of  sorrowing  disciples  when  they  beheld 
their  Lord  standing  in  their  midst,  prefacing  His  words  of  grace 
and  mercy,  with  the  salutation  "Peace  be  unto  you." 

This  was  a  -mighty,  heart-quickening  thought,  all  the 
past,  its  sins,  its  perversions  was  forgiven,  forgotten  ; 
He  came  not  as  a  wrathful  Judge  to  reckon  with  them 
for  their  unbelief,  and  unfaithfulness  ;  He  came  not  to  reproach 
them  with  their  blameable  conduct ;  He  brought  with  Him  from 
the  sepulchre  something  very  different  from  upbraidings :  He 
came  with  peace  in  His  heart,  and,  upon  His  lips,  He  said  "Peace 
be  unto  you." 


28 


Let  us  consider 

First,  The  significance  of  that  "peace"  here  declared  to  the 
trembling,  anxious  disciples. 

Secondly,  The  extent  of  the  benefits  then  assured  to  them. 

Thirdly,  The  future  blessedness  it  would  bring  to  their  ex- 
perience. 

So  far  from  uttering  an  unmeaning  form  of  words,  the  Savior 
employed  one  weighty  as  eternity,  and  designed  to  convey,  when 
falling  from  His  divine  lips,  more  than  tongue  can  adequately 
express. 

A  learned  expositor  says  the  word  ffirene,  peace,  in  a  civil  sense, 
is  the  opposite  of  war,  and  dissension.     Then  in  a  tropical  sense  it 
means  peace  of  mind,  tranquility  arising  from  reconciliation  with 
God  and  a  sense  of  the  divine  favor.     "  Therefore  being  justified 
by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
"  Now  the  God  of  hope  fill  you  with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing, 
that  ye  may  abound  in  hope   through  the  power   of  the  Holy 
Ghost."     "  The  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understanding, 
shall  keep  your  hearts,  and  minds  through  Christ  Jesus."     The 
evangelical  Prophet  sets  before  us  the  same  great  Gospel  thought. 
"He  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions,  He  was  bruised  for  our 
iniquities,  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  Him."     This  is 
the  great  foundation  stone  of  man's  security  and  happiness.     The 
procurement   of  this    peace   was    the   grand   object   of  Christ's 
mission,    and  mediation.     The  accomplishment  of  this  peace  was 
first  secured  as  He  rose  from  the  sepulchre,  for  He  "was  delivered 
for  our  offences,  and  raised  again,  for  our  justification."     Hence 
that  which  was  upon  His  heart  in  all  the  course  of  His  humiliation, 
in  all  His  sufferings,  and  abasement,  in  all   His   teachings,  and 
sacrifices,  in  all  His  prayers,  and,  agonies,  and  only  finished  when 
He  gave  up  the  ghost,  and,  was  under  the  power  of  death  for  a 
time,    and  rose  the  victor  over  the   grave  and   over   death,  He 
hastened  to  cry  to  His  beloved  followers,  "Peace  be  unto  you." 
It  links  itself  with  happiness  and  bliss  as  their  procuring  cause. 
Hence  we  read  of  "the  way  of  peace,"  that  is,  of  happiness,  and 
of  the  "sons  of  peace,"  or  bliss  or  happiness. 

Further  the  Saviour  also  included  in  this  benediction,  the  earnest 
good  wishes,  and,  kindness  of  his  heart 


Tims  wo  Bee  that  such  a  word  upon  the  Savior's  lips  comes  to  the 
cars  of  mortals,  with  un  importance,  and,  significance  that  language 
can  scarcely  express.  He  points  to  what  He  has  purchased  for 
His  people,  to  what  He  would  cause  to  be  proclaimed  and  pub- 
lished abroad  by  His  ambassadors,  "Peace  on  earth,  good  will 
toward  men." 

Here  words  are  things,  things  of  the  greatest  magnitude,  of 
the  highest  intrinsic  value  to  all  men.  His  word  created  the  uni- 
verse, and  at  his  bidding,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  ten  thousand 
worlds  would  spring  forth  again  in  order,  and  beauty.  But  such 
words  would  not  procure  for  poor,  helpless,  sinful  man,  one-half 
such  gifts  and  blessings  as  we  find  in  his  address  to  the  secluded 
worshippers  in  the  holy  city.       ..... 

Secondly,  Here  we  glance  at  the  extent  of  the  benefits  then 
assured  to  them  by  the  words  of  our  Lord.  "Peace,"  says  Baxter, 
"  containeth  infinite  blessings,  it  strengthened  faith,  it  kindleth 
charity."  ....... 

These  words  now  spoken  were  not  simply  designed  to  allay  the 
sudden  perturbation,  and,  alarm  that  might  have  been  awakened 
by  His  unexpected  presence  in  their  midst. 

The  Saviour  had  said  much  to  them  ahout  Peace  before  His 
death;  "Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you." 
"  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you  that  ye  might  have  peace." 
Nay  long  before  His  advent  He  was  proclaimed,  "  The  Prince  of 
Peace." 

Though  they  had  been  conscious  of  once  standing  in  open  hos- 
tility to  God,  had  defied  His  anger,  and  wilfully  trampled  His  law 
under  foot;  yet  now  coming  up  from  the  tomb  His  work  finished, 
His  Father's  seal  of  approbation  upon  him,  His  "everlasting  right- 
eousness, "  now  "brought  in,  "as  assured  to  every  believer;  as  these 
now  believed,  hoped,  trusted,  worshipped,  He  proclaimed  as  theirs 
peace,  reconciliation  between  God  and  their  own  souls,  and  ac- 
ceptance as  righteous  in  His  sight,  for  the  sake  of  the  divine  mer- 
it now  made  .theirs  in  an  everlasting  covenant.  This  was  a  boon 
that  could  never  else  have  been  attained  and  realized.  There  was 
but  one  ransom  price  that  could  avail;  that  was  now  offered  and 
accepted,  and  therefore  they  might  receive  the  assurance  of  peace 
with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus^Christ.  " 

"Jehovah  Tsidkenu  !  my  treasure  and  boast, 
Jehovah  Tsidkenu  !  I  ne'er  can  be  lost: 
In  Thee  I  shall  conquer  by  flood  and  by  field, 
My  cable,  my  anchor,  my  breast-plate,  my  shield." 


30 

Besides  this  they  then  had  peace  of  conscience,  the  direct  out- 
growth from  the  state  of  pardon,  and  acceptance  secured  by  the 
merits  of  Christ. 

Great  imperfections,  short-comings,  and  sins  would  constantly 
recur  to  the  jealous  observation,  of  the  anxious  heart,  but  the 
blood  of  Christ  would  allay  the  accusations  of  conscience  and  re- 
lieve from  all  apprehension  of  falling  under  God's  wrath,  or  of 
coming  into  condemnation.  "Who  shall  lay  anything  to  the  charge 
of  God's  elect?  It  is  God  that  justifieth.  Who  is  he  that  con- 
demneth  ?      It  is  Christ  that  died." 

How  blessed  is  this  condition  compared  with  that  of  the  soul 
in  which  conscience  is  ever  pointing  to  fearful  retribution  that 
shall  wring  the  soul  with  sorrow,    and  writing  accusations  that 
could  not  fail  to  bring  to  our  minds  the  treasures  of  wrath  laid  up 
in  store  for  us.        ...... 

They  then  also  had  the  assurance  of  the  Saviour's  gracious  wishes, 
and,  all  sufficient  offices,  so  that  nothing  should  harm  them,  or, 
make  them  afraid. 

Our  catechism  defines  the  benefits  we  receive  in  this  life — "as- 
surance of  God's  love,  peace  of  conscience,  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost, 
increase  of  grace,  and  perseverance  therein  to  the  end." 

"Assurance  of  God's  love,  peace  of  conscience." 

Guilt  being  purged  from  ua  in  the 
sight  of  the  Lord  we  stand  in  His  favor.     .  ... 

"Come  with  boldness  to  the  throne  of  grace,"  cheerfully  acquiesce 
in  the  dispensations  of  God.         ..... 

"Joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost."         ..... 

.     "Increase  of  grace"  and  the  principle  of  perse- 
verance therein  to  eternal  life. 

Thirdly,  The  future  blessedness  this  peace  shall  realize  to  their 
experience. 

As  they  are  by  the  righteousness  of  Christ  reinstated  in  the  eye 
of  the  law,  and  judgment  of  God  so  shall  they  reach  the  meet- 
ness  and  qualifications  requisite  to  enable  them  to  enjoy  Heaven. 

The  appointment  of  sorrows  and  reverses  good. 

all  efficacious 
"For  I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this  present 
time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory,  that  shall  b« 
revealed  in  us.  "  .  .  .  .  .         . 


3r 

"  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God.  " 

"we  glory  in  tribulations." 
The  resources  whence  their  joys  flow         .... 

the  exhaustless  well-springs  in  Christ.  We  must 
survey  His  merits,  we  must  see  the  treasures  of  His  wisdom,  we 
must  follow  the  exertions  of  His  power,  and  the  outpouring  upon 
us,  of  His  heart  of  hearts,  in  that"  love  which  passeth  knowledge." 
It  must  be  commensurate  with  the  capacity  of 
the  soul  to  receive  of  God,  and,  of  God  to  give,  and  with  eternity 
in  duration. 

These  words  were  better  than  the  offers  of  gold  and  silver, 
houses  and  lands,  honor  and  authority,  crowns  and  sceptres.  In- 
deed no  greater  gifts  were  in  His  hands,  than  these  He  declared 
to  the  eleven. 

As  Christ  was  there  so  He  delights  to  be  in  every  company  of 
worshippers.  "Where  two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  my 
name  there  am  I,  in  the  midst  of  them." 

He  is  there  not  as  a  mere  spectator  but  to  dis- 
pense consolations  and  blessings.  How  sad  the  fact  that  many 
are  so  slow  to  believe  this,  and  wound  our  Lord  by  cold  neglect. 

Peace 
Let  me  exhort  you  to  maintain  this  among  yourselves.     "Behold, 
how  good,  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together 
in  unity !" 
But  I  proclaim  this  peace  to  you        .  .  every  one ; 

if  you  only  really,  and  truly  believe, 
see  what  is  yours. 

From  this  time  forth  let  us  ever  hear  these  words  of  Christ  as 
we  kneel  in  our  closets  .  .  .  at 

the  family  altar,  where  the  few  meet,  to  call  unitedly  upon  His 
name,  or,  as  we  pour  the  public  prayer  in  the  sanctuary. 

When  we  enter  His  church  He  will  teach  us  the 
immeasurable  blessings  He  conveyed  in  these  words  of  peace. 

.  .  .         He  will  whisper  them  in  our 

ear,  as  the  last  of  earth  fades  from  the  glazing  eye ;  and  salute  us 
with  them  as  we  enter  the  habitations  of  His  glory. 


"  Occupy  till  I  come." — Luke  19:  18. 

The  occurrences  which  drew  from  our  Saviour  the  wonderful 
parable  in  which  our  text  is  found,  took  place  in  the  city  of  Jeri- 
cho, as  Jesus  passed  through  on  His  way  to  Jerusalem.  The 
many  marvellous  works  He  had  done  had  excited  the  curiosity  of 
a  citizen  of  that  place,  a  man  of  fortune  and  position,  a  collector 
of  customs.  Being  little  of  stature,  the  crowd  that  surrounded 
our  Lord  seemed  likely  to  prevent  his  seeing  Him,  but  forgetful 
of  his  dignity,  and  impelled  by  a  divinely  implanted  desire,  he 
climbed  up  into  a  sycamore  tree  that  over-shadowed  the  wayside. 
Thompson  in  his  admirable  volume  "The  Land,  and  the  Book," 
concludes  this  was  not  the  mulberry,  as  some  have  supposed,  but 
the  Kliarub  or  Syrian  Sycamore,  a  tree  usually  planted  along  thor- 
oughfares in  oriental  countries,  and  admirably  adapted  to  the  pur- 
pose for  which  Zaccheus  selected  it,  having  a  rough,  shaggy  trunk, 
and  giant  arms. 

Our  Lord  was  not  unobservant  of  the  workings  of  his  heart,  and 
graciously  responded  to  his  deeply  felt,  but  unuttered  desire  by 
saying  to  him,  "Zaccheus  make  haste,  and  come  down  for  to-day 
I  must  abide  at  thy  house. "     The  processes  within  his  heart  are 
not  developed,  but  we  find  as  the  blind  saw,  the  deaf  heard,  the 
dumb  spoke  at  the  Saviour's  bidding,  so  the  selfish  worldly  spirit 
of  this  man  soon  became  conscious  of  a  great  change,  as  was 
evinced  by  the  quick  and  ready  benevolence  expressed,  and  the 
earnest  avowal  of  resolutions  for  the  future.  The  Saviour  then  de- 
clares in  the  presence  Of  others  that  He  had  thus  signally  blessed 
Zaccheus  "forasmuch  as  he  was  a  son  of  Abraham,"  and  further 
intimates  that  the  great  object  of  His  wonderful  mission  to  the 
earth  was  to  seek  and  to  save  the  lost.      The  gross  views  of  the 
Jewish  people  blinded  them  so  that  they  saw  nothing  higher  in 
the  sublime  spiritual  lesson  the  Lord  had  just  spoken  than  the  as- 
sumption of  a  temporal  kingdom,  and  their  deliverance  from  the 
Roman  yoke.     Indeed  as  they  drew  near  to  Jerusalem,  they  were 
bo  carried  away  by  this  delusion  as  to  look  for  his  immediate  en- 
thronement.    In  His  inimitable  wisdom  the  Saviour  designed  to 


33 

correct  their  erroneous  views,  by  the  brief  and  instructive  parable 
which  He  proceeded  to  narrate.       A  nobleman  went  to  receive 
the  investiture  of  a  kingdom,  falling  to  him  in  a  distant  country. 
Of  this  they  had  familiar  examples.      Most  of  the  Kings  of  the 
East  at  this  time  were  vassals  to  Rome,  and  the  heir,  seldom  ven- 
tured to  ascend  the  vacant  throne  without  her  sanction  and  some- 
times a  journey  to  the  Capital  was  requisite  to  ensure  their  suc- 
cession.   Herod,  and,  Archelaus  reigned  by  favor  of  the  Romans. — 
To  ten  servants  the  nobleman  delivered  ten  pounds  (equivalent 
to  the  talents  of  the  parallel  parable  in  Matthew,)  with  which  each 
was  to  do  business  till  his  return,  enjoining  their  duty  and  obli- 
gations, in  the  words  of  our  text,  "  Occupy  till  I  come.  "     I  know 
few  words  says  an  eminently  pious  writer  more  searching  and 
impressive  than  these  four.     They  are  spoken  to  all  who  profess 
and  call  themselves  christians.     They  address  the  conscience  of 
all  who  have  not  renounced  their  profession  and  turned  their 
backs  on  Christianity.     They  ought  to  stir  up  the  hearers  of  the 
Gospel  to  "examine  themselves  whether  they  are  in  the  faith,  and 
to  prove  themselves.  "     After  such  a  process  of  self-inspection,  a 
large  company  here,  but  recently  met  at  the  Lord's  table,  not  we 
trust  with  any  such  misguided  apprehensions  as  bewildered  the 
minds  of  the  secular,  sensuous  Jews  but  we  have  reason  to  hope 
you  ordered  your  purposes  and  plans  of  life  for  the  glory  of  the 
Master  who  so  lately  placed  in  your  hands,  fresh  tokens  of  His 
love  and  pledges  of  His  return. 

It  will  not  be  unprofitable  we  trust  to  dwell  upon  these  four 
significant,  and,  impressive  words  so  earnestly  spoken  by  the 
Lord  Jesus.  They  are  as  really  and  truly  addressed  to  us,  "on 
whom  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come  "  as  to  those  who  gathered 
round  Him  in  the  home  of  the  publican. 

It  is  an  impressive  thought  indeed  that  Jesus  speaks  to  us.  His 
very  words  are  ringing  in  *our  ears.  It  is  true  we  hear  not  the 
sweet  tones  of  voice,  which  conveyed  his  blessed  lessons  of  truth 
and  consolation  to  all  hearts  so  that  they  wondered  at  the  words 
of  truth  and  grace  which  He  spake. 

But  when  we  have  a  lesson  so  brie£  and  practical  from  the  un- 
derstanding, that  is  infinite,  from  wisdom,  that  is  unsearchable, 
from  a  friend  that  loved  us  while  we  were  his  enemies,  who  gave 
Himself  for  us,  that  He  might  redeem  us  from  all  evil,  and  make 
us  kings  and  priests   unto  God,  when  He  has  gone  to  prepare  a 

E 


34 

place  for  us,  and  declared  that  He  will  return  again,  and  receive 
us  unto  Himself  that  we  may  be  with  Him,  and  behold  His  glory; 
surely  it  is  but  reasonable  that  we  should  most  deeply,  earnestly 
and,  reverently  give  our  thoughts,  and  careful  and  practical  atten- 
tion to  every  syllable  that  falls  from  His  lips  ! 

But  in  the  next  place  we   inquire 
into  the  significant  import  of  these  words. 

The  servants  of  the  nobleman  were  to  do  business,  and,  increas-e 
wealth,  the  christian  is  to  do  good  and  promote  the  glory  of  the 
Master.  Behold  what  He  has  entrusted  to  each  one  of  His  chil- 
dren.        .  .  ..... 

The  germ  of  the  new  life  is  planted  by  His  own  hand  in  your 
heart. 

One  grand  stage  of  the  development,  pertains  to  the  part  of  our 
pilgrimage  anterior  to  the  grave. 

What  a  work  is  to  be  wrought  in  the  riddance  of  all  those  evil 
growths,  that  spring  like  noxious  weeds,  to  retard  the  better, 
and  more  valuable  plants  in  the  garden  of  your  soul.  Selfishness 
is  adverse  to  the  heaven-born  benevolence  of  the  new  nature,  it 
must  be  eradicated  ;  sloth  is  opposed,  to  pains-taking  labor  and, 
dilligence  in  all  the  appointed  duties  of  the  christian  walk ;  sen- 
suality to  faith,  sinful  pleasure,  to  the  spirit  of  devotion,  self-right- 
eousneBs,  to  the  habitual  trust  in  Christ  .  .  the  flesh  to  the 
spirit,  corruption  to  grace. 

the  course  of  duty  when  we  be- 
come new  creatures. 

What  has  He  given  into  our  hands  to  be  accounted  for,  and  use- 
fully employed  till  the  day  of  release. 

Consider, — your  bodily  health  and  strength,  mental  gifts  and 
capacities,  money,  and  earthly  possessions,  rank,  and  position  in 
life,  example,  and  influence  with  others.  Liberty  to  read  the  Bi- 
ble, and  hear  the  gospel,  plentiful  supply  of  the  means  of  grace. 

All  these  are  your  pounds,  all  these  are  to  be  used  and  employ- 
ed with  continual  reference  to  Christ's  glory.  Of  Him  come  both 
riches  and  honor,  His  is  the  silver  and  His  the  gold,  His  is  your 
body,  and  His  your  spirit,  He  appoints  your  habitation,  and  He 
gives  you  life  and  health,  "ye  are  not  your  own — ye  are  bought 
with  a  price."  Has  God  imparted  to  you  new  life 
th  e  Holy  Ghost  .  opened  to  you  precious  prom- 

ises. .  .  the  throne  of  grace 

given  you  daily  access,  to  christains  and  the  impenitent 


35 

assurod  us  not  a  cup  of  cold  water  unrewarded  1 

To  what  specific  ends  are  wo  to  direct  our  efforts  in  following 
the  spirit  of  this  injunction? 

This  is  the  best  and  most  successful  method  of  turning  them  to 
our  own  spiritual  advantage.  Job's  captivity  was  turned  when 
he  prayed  for  his  friends.  The  deepest  gloom  and  despondence 
of  the  christain's  heart  have  often  broken  away  when  he  became 
interested  for  others,  and  his  own  troubles  havo  been  wholly  for- 
gotten. The  effort  and  desire  to  benefit  others,  and  especially 
labor  and  care  for  their  salvation  and  spirituality  marvellously 
bear  the  souls  of  believers  onward  in  assimilation  to  Christ. 

We  look  at  Captain  Vicars  maintaining  a  near- 
ness to  his  Saviour,  amid  the  bustle  of  camp  life, — amid  the  intens- 
est  war  excitement,  it  is  because  he  was  not  ashamed  to  bear 
Christ  to  others,  wherever  ho  mingled  with  his  fellow  soldiers, 
officers,  or  privates. 

But  the  glorious  results  to  be  expected  from  these  agencies  af- 
ford a  mighty  incentive.  .  .         Dr.  Abed 
conceive  the  labors  of  the  Sabbath  School  teacher 
those  little  seeds  of  truth  placed  in  the  soil  of  youthful  hearts 
The  Bible  class         .  .  the  instance 
of  3Ess  Ching. 

The  word  spoken  to  cold  languishing  believers, — an  instance 
in  my  recollection.  Many  years  ago  there  was  in  this  church  a 
christian  of  whom  it  might  be  said  he  was  "  faithful  in  a  little  " 
he  loved  the  courts  of  the  Lord's  house,  and  ever  filled  his  seat  in 
the  prayer-meeting  assisting  in  his  humble  way  in  its  devotions. 
On  his  way  to  the  latter  he  passed  the  house  of  a  brother  in  the 
church,  a  man  of  richer  gifts  and  longer  christian  experience,  but 
alas!  one  who  had  never  tasted  the  sweet  fulfilment,  of  that  prom- 
ise "  where  two,  or,  three  are  gathered  in  my  name  there  am  I  in 
the  midst  of  them."  Meekly,  but  perseveringly  the  humble  man 
plied  the  older  christian  with  entreaties,  and  expostulations, 
rather  than  argument,  until  at  last  he  yielded,  accompanied  him 
to  the  prayer-meeting  and  became  a  joyful,  and  most  edifying 
participant  in  its  services,  and  though  then  far  advanced  in  life 
lived  to  plead  with  God  for  this  church,  and  prevail,  when  even 
the  wise  virgins  around  were  sleeping. 

In  primitive  times  the  gospel  was  thus  diffused  by  all  classes 
even  down  to  slaves.  In  our  own  land,  and  day  we  have  a  beau- 
tiful illustration  of  what  even  this  humble  class  may  do  for  that 


36 

gospel  which  makes  tliem  freemen  in  Christ.  "  Old  Moses  "  was 
a  slave  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland;  converted  by  the  grace 
of  God  he  prayed  that  his  master  might  partake  of  the  same  bless- 
inge.  These  praydrs,  overheard  at  his  master's  dwelling  gave 
offence,  and  he  was  sold,  but  he  who  proclaimed  himself  the  hear- 
er of  prayer,  brought  their  subject  to  the  feet  of  Jesus. 

This  is  the  only  time  for  this  work.     In  it  you  may  engage  for 
a  brief  day,  and  then  never  have  access  to  do  aught  again  for 
eternity        ........ 

Christ  promises  to  be  with  you  and  .  .  .  His  grace 
sufficient  for  you.  He  will  give  His  holy  spirit  too  to  them  that 
ask  Him.     Thus  an  open  door  is  set  before  you  to  occupy : 

as  Christ  did  in  His  day  as 
many  of  the  cloud  of  witnesses  who  are  now  in  glory. 
But  the  great  thought  is  that  Christ  comes,  "  till  he  come.  "  This 
we  understand  in  the  general  import,  to  indicate  to  his  people 
and  church,  the  great  requirement  at  their  hands,  till  he  shall 
gather  His  elect  from  the  four  winds. 

But  to  the  individual  it  points  out  that  nearing 
period  within  perhaps  a  single  step,  when  this  vapor-like  life  shall 
vanish,  and  we  shall  be  seen  in  our  familiar  walks  no  more,  "in 
such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not  the  son  of  man  cometh." 

Then  although  we  had  labored  unseen,  and  endured  pain  and 
insult  and  often  mourned  our  ill  success,  we  shall  find  that  in 
every  step  of  our  faithful  occupancy  we  were  sustained  by  His 
presence,  care,  and  sympathy. 

It  shall  then  be  seen  that  not  any  of  our  efforts  were  forgotten, 
or  overlooked, — that  at  an  unexpected  moment,  a  word  dropped, 
fixed  itself  in  the  memory, — took  root  in  the  heart,  and  sprang 
forth,  under  the  energy  of  the  new  life. 

Oh !  what  answers  to  prayer,  what  happy  and  vast  results  from 
the  exertions  of  those  who  sought  to  obey  this  injunction,  five — 
ten — an  hundred-fold  results,  and  life  everlasting.  The  reward 
when  He  comes, — the  rest, — the  joy,  the  future  occupancy  when 
He  bids  us  "come  up  higher," — "eye  hathnot  seen." 

But  the  Lord  cometh;  say,  ye,  who  bear  the  name  of  Christ 
what  is  your  present  attitude  ?  are  you  hiding  your  Lord's  money 

making  no  exertion,  do  you  not  think  of 
the  work  to  be  done  ?  do  you  exonerate  yourselves  on  some  flimsy 
pretext  ?  are  you  hurrying  to  meet  Him  with  nothing  to  show 
but  a  few  outward  formal  acts,  on  the  unerring  records  of  your 


37 

coming  Lord  ?  .  .  .  .  . 

Your  heart  barren  of  interest  for  others,  your  hands  utterly  idle 
that  you  never  labored,  or  prayed  for  the 
ungodly,  that  your  talents  were  neglected,  or  wasted  on  your  own 
selfish  aims  and  purposes. 

What  must  we  say  when  we  meet  our  Lord  to  account  for  that 
He  has  granted,  and  we  shall  find  nothing  of  all  he  intrusted,  of 
the  ample  means,  temporal  and  eternal,  material  and  spiritual,  all 
were  abused,  neglected  despite  these  solemn  words. 

If  you  have  not  made  the  experiment  believer,  consider  that 
your  course  locks  up  from  your  enjoyment  the  treasure  house  of 
christian  experience. 

Oh,  what  a  blessed  vision 
do  I  behold,  this  church  awaking  to  the  import,  and  obligation  of 
these  words !  How  many  mentally  confessing  past  delinquency, 
resolving  to  obey  their  Lord  .  .  .  How  many  saying, 
"Lord  what  will  Thou  have  me  to  do  ?" 

Three  hundred  prayers  in  secret  addressed  to  the  hearer  of 
prayer  for  the  welfare  of  the  whole,  and  the  conversion  of  sinners. 
Three  hundred  words, — sentences,  spoken,  or  efforts  daily  made 
for  the  impenitent.  Three  hundred  bright  and  impressive  exam- 
ples of  Christ-like  walk  and  devotion. 

These,  in  the  mass        .  in  the  house  of  prayer 

and  sanctuary  all  making  out  an  account  in  the  record  of  the  an- 
gel, well-pleasing  to  the  Master.     And  as  one  and  another  is  call- 
ed, the  Saviour's  salutation  meets  each  on  the  confines  of  the  ce- 
lestial city  "well  done  good  and  faithful  servant." 
Then  .  .  .  the  final  gathering  of  all,   while 

growing  numbers  shall  remain  "to  occupy,"  and  thus  from  this 
spot  till  the  end  of  time,  a  stream  of  faithful  occupiers  ascend  to 
glory  ......         and  at  last 

the  reward,  and  bliss  complete  before  the  throne  of  God  and  the 
Lamb. 


FUNERAL  OF  REV.  H.  G.  COMINGO,  D.  D. 

The  following  account  is  taken  from  the  Presbyterian  Banner, 
and  was  written  by  the  Rev.  James  Allison: 

At  9  o'clock  on  Wednesday  morning,  after  a  ride  on  the  railroad  of  two  hours,  we  found 
ourself  at  the  station  in  Steubenville.  This  place  we  had  frequently  visited,  and  every 
time  before  this  there  was  a  kind  voice  to  welcome  us  and  a  warm  hand  to  grasp  us.  But 
to-day  that  voice  is  silent,  that  hand  is  cold.  And  we,  along  with  multitudes  of  others, 
have  come  to  attend  the  funeral  ceremonies  of  the  Rev.  Henry  G.  Comingo,  D.  D.,  who  had 
died  on  the  previous  Sabbath  morning,  in  the  53d  year  of  his  age.  The  whole  city  seemed 
to  feel  that  it  had  met  with  a  great  loss.  The  children  in  the  streets  played  less  merrily. 
The  countenances  of  men  and  women  were  more  than  usually  serious,  and  they  talked  in 
subdued  tones.     While  business  seemed  almost  entirely  suspended. 

At  the  hour  of  1U  o'clock,  the  body  of  our  deceased  brother  was  carried  into  the  church 
by  the  Elders,  followed  by  the  widow,  her  two  orphan  boys,  and  her  relatives.  After 
these  came  the  clergymen  of  the  city  and  others  from  a  distance.  The  church  had  been 
already  filled  by  the  congregation  and  inhabitants,  so  far  as  they  were  able  to  obtain 
admittance.  As  the  body — enclosed  iu  a  beautiful  burial  casket,  and  arrayed  in  the  suit 
of  clothes  presented  him  a  few  days  previous  to  his  last  illness — was  slowly  carried  up  the 
aisle,  an  involuntary  sob  escaped  hundreds  of  lips.  So  audible  was  the  weeping  that  no 
heart  was  untouched.  The  house  was  completely  draped  in  black,  the  daylight  excluded 
and  lamps  lighted. 

The  solemn  services  were  introduced  by  singing  the  633d  Hymn — 

"Vital  6park  of  heavenly  flame." 

The  Rev.  J.  B.  Patterson,  pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church,  then  read  appro- 
priate selections  of  Scripture,  taken  principally  from  the  15th  chapter  of  1.  Corinthians. 
After  this,  prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  D.  D.,  of  Washington,  Pa. 
Then  the  Rev.  C.  C.  Beattt,  D.  D.,  who  conducted  the  exercises,  said,  that  owing  to  the 
fact  that  he  had  been  the  predecessor  of  Dr.  Comingo  in  the  pastorate  of  that  church,  and 
his  long  intimacy  with  his  deceased  brother,  it  would  naturally  be  expected  that  he  should 
6ay  something,  on  this  occasion,  of  his  worth  and  of  his  hopes.  But  neither  the  state  of 
his  health  nor  his  emotions  would  allow  this  at  present,  and  he  would  give  place  to  others. 
On  a  future  occasion  he  would  discharge  this  duty,  at  a  time  of  which  due  notice  would 
be  given.  He  then  introduced  the  venerable  Rev.  Henry  Weed,  D.  D.,  of  Wheeling,  a 
member  of  the  first  class  that  graduated  at  Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  Dr.  Weed 
6aid  :  What  is  the  voice  of  a  poor  and  infirm  old  man,  amid  this  drapery,  these  mournful 
faces,  these  weeping  eyes,  and  thes^  throbbing  hearts  ?  An  inaudible  voice  was  speaking 
to  them  to-day;  it  was  the  voice  of  God.  Gladly  would  the  speaker  be  silent,  but  in  con- 
sideration of  the  dying  request  of  his  brother,  who  so  deliberately  contemplated  death,  he 
could  not  refuse  to  speak. 

He  had  lost  a  friend,  all  there  had  lost  a  friend.  And  that  loss  was  great.  Every  one's 
thoughts  at  once  recurred  to  his  labors,  his  services,  and  his  death.  To  us  the  loss  was 
sudden,  but  the  change  was  not  so  to  him  who  had  just  left  us.  Before  mortal  symptoms 
had  presented  themselves  he  had  felt  and  said  that  his  work  was  finished.  It  was  not  im- 
possible to  believe  that  God  by  his  holy  Spirit  could  impress  his  servant  with  the  convic- 
tion that  his  work  was  done.  It  was  consoling  in  this  case  to  know  that  the  Lord  had 
not  suddenly  broken  the  ties  that  had  bound  him  to  earth.  Thus  he  could  quietly  meet 
the  approaching  change,  saying  ''My  work  is  done,"  when  the  hand  of  disease  was  con- 
firming his  previous  anticipations.  How  like  Paul  !  and  there  was  much  of  the  Paclinb 
in  his  character.  How  like  Christ  I  He  desired  to  meet  those  of  his  charge  who  had  gone 
before  to  the  general  assembly  and  Church  of  the  first  born.  He  could  leave  the  people 
he  loved,  because  he  loved  his  Lord  more.  Estimable  as  he  was  as  a  man,  it  was  of  grace, 
and  not  of  man,  that  he  was  enabled  to  die  thus — so  peacefully  and  so  hopefully — most  of 


30 

those  present  had  often  heard  him  commend  Christ.     God  made  him  to  realize  in  his  owii 
experience  that  grace  of  which  he  had  testified. 

His  death  is  a  warning  to  Christians  to  be  ready.  Especially  is  it  a  warning  to  the  un- 
converted. For,  successful  as  his  ministry  had  been,  all  of  them  had  not  accepted  the 
Gospel.  He  had  besought  them  with  an  affectionate  solicitude  and  a  holy  earnestness 
never  to  be  forgotten.  Even  amid  the  pains  of  death  he  had  sent  messages  to  his  people. 
In  your  retirement  forget  not  these. 

The  Rev.  A.  M.  Reid,  of  the  Female  Seminary,  then  said  :  * 

I  should  not  speak  in  this  presence,  to-day,  christian  friends,  but  that  I  have  a  message 
entrusted  to  me,  for  his  congregation,  from  our  dear  brother  who  is  gone.  When  I  was 
with  him  about  noon  of  last  Saturday,  the  day  before  he  left  us,  he  spoke  freely  of  his 
death  and  his  bright  prospect  beyond.  After  giving  me  messages  of  kindness  and  love 
for  different  members  of  our  family,  even  to  the  youngest  of  the  household,  and  for  the 
young  ladies  of  the  Seminary  in  whom  he  always  felt  a  deep  interest,  and  of  whom  he  often 
spoke  as  "the  strangers  in  our  midst,"  he  said:  "And  my  dear  congregation,  tell  them- 
how  much  I  love  them.  My  dear,  dear  people,  I  did  not  know  how  much  I  loved  them. 
They  have  been  very  kind  to  me  ever  since  I  have  been  with  them,  bearing  with  my  im- 
perfections and  short-comings.  Ask  them  to  forgive  me  if  I  have  wronged  any  one  of 
them  in  any  wise.  And  1  do  freely  forgive  any  who  may  have  wronged  me.  And  tell  my 
dear  congregation  from  their  dying  pastor's  bed  to  give  their  hearts  to  Jesus.  Oh,  why 
will  they  reject  my  Saviour  ?" 

My  impenitent  friends,  you,  who  have  long  listened  to  that  voice  now  silent  can  best 
answer  that  question:  "Oh,  why  will  they  reject  my  Saviour  ?"  Oh,  my  dying  friends, 
let  the  stillness  and  silence  of  this  solemn  scene  impress  this  last  sad  question  of  your 
dying  pastor  upon  your  hearts.  You  would  not  listen  to  his  voice  from  that  pulpit,  will 
you  not  listen  to  his  voice  from  this  coffin '?  Oh,  if  his  spirit  could  come  here  from 
heaven  to-day  and  re-animate  those  cold  lips,  with  what  passionate  earnestness  would  he 
beseech  and  urge  you  to  give  your  hearts  to  Jesus.  Rejectors  of  Jesus,  if  you  would  see 
your  pastor  again  in  yon  bright  world,  listen  to  his  last  words,  give  your  hearts  to  Jesus. 
If  you  would  die  like  him  triumphing  over  death,  give  your  hearts  to  Jesus.  I  have  seen 
him  in  many  a  joyous  and  happy  hour,  the  most  joyous  of  the  joyful  the  happiest  of  the 
happy.  God  only  knows  the  many  pleasant  hours  we  have  spent  together — for  he  enjoyed 
the  higher  and  purer  pleasures  of  social  and  religious  life  as  much  as  any  one.  But  I 
have  never  seen  him  so  happy,  in  such  a  rapture  of  exalted  happiness,  as  when,  in  the 
near  prospect  of  death  on  last  Saturday,  he  said,  "I  shall  awake  in  His  likeness.  Oh, 
precious  thought,  to  be  like  Jesus."  Then  clasping  his  hands,  with  light  from  heaven 
upon  his  face,  he  said: 

"0  glorious  horn- !     O  blest  abode ! 

I  shall  be  near  and  like  my  God." 
He  had  not  the  shadow  of  a  doubt  as  to  the  future.  "To-morrow"  said  he,  "is  the  first 
Sabbath  of  December  and  I  shall  spend  it  in  heaven."  He  was  anxious  to  depart  and  be 
with  Christ  which  is  far  better.  "Are  you  willing  to  die?"  I  said  to  him  the  night  of  his 
death.  "0  yes,"  he  replied,  "I  am  afraid  1  am  impatient  to  be  gone."  The  language  of- 
his  heart  in  his  last  moments  is  well  expressed  in  a  hymn  which  was  very  dear  to  him. 

"Let  me  go,  the  day  is  breaking, 

Dear  companions  let  me  go." 
And  when  the  day  was  breaking  his  spirit  took  its  upward  flight  and  he  did  spend  the  first 
Sabbath  of  December  in  heaven  as  he  had  predicted.      "Meet  me  in  heaven,"  said  he. — • 
God  grant  that  we  all  may  meet  him  in  heaven. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Andrews,  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church, 
remarked : 

That  he  felt  constrained  to  say  a  word  to  magnify  the  grace  of  God,  to  cheer  and  ani- 
mate. Five  years  ago  he  had  come  to  this  place,  was  most  cordially  received  by  brother 
Comingo.  And  from  that  hour  to  this  he  had  found  him  the  friend  in  whom  he  could 
confide  and  the  brother  he  could  love.  On  last  Saturday  evening  he  had  gone  to  his 
room,  and  as  he  entered,  the  dying  pastor  exclaimed,  "Almost  home,  come  along  brother, 
and  bring  your  people  with  you."  Two  weeks  ago,  in  this  place  the  people,  like  Mart 
of  old,  had  brought  the  alabaster-box  and  broken  it.  The  perfume  was  grateful.  And 
though  an  envious  spirit  might  have  said,  why  all  this  waste — why  was  not  this  sold  and 
given  to  the  poor  ?  He  could  have  replied,  pointing  to  the  clothes  they  had  given  him, 
"they  have  done  this  against  my  burial."     He  had  often  seen  brother  Cominuo  happy,  but 

*MI    R.  furnished'  his  remarks  inserted,  instead  of  the  abstract  in  the  Banner. 


40 

never  in  so  much  ecstacy  of  enjoyment  as  or.  last  Saturday  evening,  when  the  Bilver  cord 
was  being  loosed,  and  the  golden  bowl  broken. 

He  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ahbott,  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church,  who  bore 
testimony  to  the  generosity,  worth,  and  christian  character  of  the  deceased. 

The  Eev.  Dr.  Jacobus,  of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary, 
said : 

At  the  risk  of  disturbing  the  impression  now  made,  he  must  refer  to  another  feature  of 
the  character  of  his  dear  departed  brother.  He  had  met  him  twenty-six  years  ago,  in  the 
Seminary  at  Princeton.  He  was  a  senior,  I  a  junior.  Then  he  was  the  same  genial  friend 
and  devoted  Christian  as  ever  since.  He  was  a  man  of  public  spirit  in  all  great  and  good 
enterprises.  He  would  be  missed  in  the  General  Assembly  and  in  the  Synod;  and 
especially  would  the  members  of  Synod  remember  his  holy  earnestness  at  the  last  meet- 
ing. He  would  be  missed  in  the  Presbytery,  at  "Washington  College,  and  in  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary.  Is  it  possible  that  brother  Comingo  lies  there  ?  What  a  beautiful 
winding  up  of  a  quarter  of  a  century.  You  met  to  receive  his  salutation,  and  give  him 
those  garments,  not  to  preach  in,  as  you  fondly  hoped,  but  to  lie  in  death.  How  instruc- 
tive the  course  of  such  a  father,  husband,  and  friend !  How  do  our  eyes  follow  this  chariot, 
this  horseman  as  he  steps  out  of  these  vestments  into  heaven  !  Well  do  we  remember 
when  the  last  Convention  met  in  Pittsburgh  for  prayer,  with  what  a  prayer  he  opened 
that  solemn  convocation;  how  he  poured  out  his  great  soul.  How  appropriate  his  last 
texts !  In  the  morning,  "Peace  be  with  you;"  and  in  the  afternoon,  "Occupy  till  I  come." 
And  on  Monday,  when  he  felt  the  first  attack  of  disease  he  had  said,  "How  becoming  if  the 
Master  should  now  take  me  home  !"  There  was  not  a  blight  on  his  character — not  a  stain 
on  his  memory.  He  could  say  with  the  Apostle,  "I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth,"  <fcc. 
May  his  blessed  experience  be  ours.  We  are  like  soldiers  in  the  army;  some  fall,  and 
others  must  rush  forward  to  take  their  places. 

Prayer  was  then  offered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Swanky,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Steubenville. — 
After  which  the  639th  hymn  was  sung,  and  the  benediction  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Morse,  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

At  the  close  of  these  services,  the  vast  assemblage,  including  Christians  of  all  denomina- 
tions and  classes,  even  Jews,  and  those  having  no  regard  for  any  forms  of  religion,  passed 
in  front  of  the  pulpit,  with  slow  steps  and  tearful  eyes,  to  behold  for  the  last  time  on  earth 
the  face  of  him  whom  they  all  loved;  and  then  the  long  procession  took  its  way  to  the 
beautiful  Cemeterj.  west  of  the  city,  where  the  body  was  committed  to  its  resting  place, 
till  the  resurrection, 

The  Rev.  Henry  G.  Comingo,  D.  D.,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  a  graduate  of  Centre 
College  at  Danville,  in  that  State.  Here,  for  a  year  after  graduation,  he  acted  as  tutor, 
having  for  one  of  his  pupils  Ex- Vice  President  John  C.  Breckinridge,  whose  treason  was 
a  source  of  great  pain  and  mortification  to  his  former  instructor.  In  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Princeton,  he  passed  through  the  course.  And  now,  after  twenty-five  years 
of  successful  pastoral  labor,  he  has  died,  in  the  very  midst  of  his  usefulness,  mourned  by. 
all  who  knew  him.  His  church,  his  wife,  and  his  orphan  sons,  have  the  sympathies  and 
prayers  of  many — very  many. 


FUNERAL    DISCOURSE: 

PREACHED  BY  THE 

REV.  DR.  CHARLES  C.  BEATTY, 

On  Sabbath  Morning,  December  22nd,  1861. 
REQUESTED  BY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  CONGREGATION. 


"Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints." — Psalm  116:  15. 

In  the  midst  of  a  world  apostate  and  sinful,  it  is  matter  of  con- 
solation that  there  are  some,  though  few,  to  be  distinguished  from 
others,  and  known  as  the  excellent  of  the  earth.  These,  the  peo- 
ple of  God,  by  whatever  name  they  may  be  called: — are  pointed 
out  in  the  text  as  his  saints.  The  eye  of  infinite  wisdom  discerns 
and  separates  them  from  the  mass  of  human  society,  pronouncing 
"the  righteous  more  excellent  than  his  neighbor."  (Pro v.  12:  26.) 

They  are  called  saints  as  persons  relatively  or  really  holy;  and 
this  is  their  character.  Men  often  lightly  esteem  them.  But 
however  they  may  be  regarded,  or  disregarded  by  their  fellow 
men,  who  are  absorbed  in  things,  in  their  own  estimation,  of 
greater  importance,  we  know  from  the  Scriptures,  that  God,  (who 
seeth  not  as  man  seeth,)  judges  very  differently,  and  regards  them 
with  special  distinction,  claiming  them  as  His  in  a  peculiar  rela- 
tion. 

That  which  in  this  passage  deserves  your  particular  notice,  be- 
cause it  marks  the  genuine  import  of  the  whole,  is  that  the  peo- 
ple of  God  are  said  emphatically  to  be  His  saints.  It  is  true  in- 
deed that  the  earth  is  the  Lords,  and  the  fulness  thereof.  He  says 
(Ezek.  18:4.)  "Behold  all  souls  are  mine"— yet  there  is  a  sense: — 
very  peculiar  and  precious; — in  which  the  saints  and  they  only  are 
His  people.  It  is  that  sense  in  which  property  is  put  for  appro- 
bation, affection,  delight  and  covenant  relation.  In  many  instan- 
ces, and  in  various  respects,  is  this  appropriating  language  applied 
by  the  Lord  in  his  word,  to  those  who  truly  love,  fear,  and  obey 
Him.  According  to  these,  they  are  His  in  the  everlasting  purpose 
of  His  love: — they  are  His  by  the  purchase  of  the  Redeemer's 

F 


42 

blood: — they  are  His  by  the  efficacious  influences  of  His  grace: — 
they  are  His  by  their  own  voluntary  choice,  and  covenant  engage- 
ment devoting  themselves  to  His  service: — they  are  His  as  He  be- 
comes the  present  and  everlasting  portion  of  their  souls.  It  is  in 
consequence  of  this  relation  that  God  orders  all  things  for  their 
good;  bringing  all  events  of  His  providence  to  subserve  their  ben- 
efit as  well  as  His  own  glory.  "All  things  are  theirs  &c.  (1  Cor. 
3:21-22.) 

The  saints  of  God  are  nevertheless,  mortal  and  dying.  They 
must  go  the  way  of  all  flesh.  This  is  heavens  righteous,  and  we 
may  add,  gracious  decision.  Death  though  at  first  laid  as  a  curse 
upon  man,  is  through  God's  mercy  converted  into  a  blessing  to- 
ward His  people,  and  becomes  an  event  desirable  from  its  conse- 
quences resulting  in  everlasting  life,  glory  and  blessedness.  To 
him  who  feels  "I  would  not  live  alway,"  this  termination  of  earth- 
ly sorrows  and  sins: — this  introduction  to  the  bliss  of  heaven,  is 
an  event  deeply  interesting.  And  the  Psalmist  so  regarding  it, 
selects  it  from  the  catalogue  of  benefits  which  he  might  have  re- 
cited, fixes  his  eye  solely  on  this  article,  and  exclaims  "Precious 
in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  His  saints."  He  does  this 
not  from  its  exclusive  character,  but  because  from  some  circum- 
stance it  then  arrested  his  attention;  and  for  a  similar  reason  we 
now  dwell  upon  it  as  the  theme  of  our  discourse. 

I  will  endeavor  to  show  briefly  that  the  death  of  His  saints  is 
precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord: — 

1.  In  respect  to  its  time. 

2.  In  regard  to  its  circumstances. 

3.  In  reference  to  its  consequences. 

The  truths  which  I  propose  to  exhibit,  though  exceedingly  im- 
portant, are  so  plain  and  undeniable  to  all  who  believe  in  a  partic- 
ular providence,  and  the  declarations  of  God's  word,  as  to  leave 
no  room  for  doubt.  It  becomes  me,  then,  rather  to  furnish  mat- 
ter for  serious  and  profitable  meditation  than  consume  the  short 
time  in  unnecessary  reasoning  or  superfluous  illustration. 

1.  The  death  of  His  saints  is  precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord 
in  respect  to  its  time. 

All  events  are  at  the  disposal  of  the  righteous  Governor  of  the 
Universe.  Every  hair  of  our  head  is  numbered,  and  not  a  sparrow 
falleth  to  the  ground  without  our  heavenly  father  (Luke  12:  6.) — 
He  hath  determined  the  times,  and  the  bounds  of  every  man's 
habitation.  (Acts  17:  26.)    Whether  men  be  therefore  the  friends 


43 

or  foes  of  God,  their  life  while  it  continues  is  upheld  by  Him,  and 
their  death,  when  it  happens,  takes  place  by  His  permission  and 
direction.  But  there  is  an  important  difference;  and  the  christian 
may  say  with  a  special  propriety,  in  the  language  of  the  Psalmist, 
(31-15,)  "My  times  are  in  thy  hand."  Those  who  are  God's  child- 
ren have  the  present  and  comfortable  assurance  that  He  watcheth 
over  them  with  a  fatherly  care,  and  that  all  things  shall  work  to- 
gether for  their  good  (Rom.  8:  28.)  Their  life  will  be  prolonged 
so  far  as  they  themselves,  if  they  were  fully  enlightened,  would 
ever  wish  for  its  continuance;  and  their  death  will  be  ordered  at 
the  most  seasonable  time  that  infinite  wisdom  can  devise.  Though 
ignorant  themselves,  and  unfit  to  make  a  choice,  their  whole  des- 
tiny is  in  the  hands  of  an  omniscient,  gracious  father;  and  infinite 
wisdom,  combined  with  infinite  goodness,  is  engaged  to  choose  for 
them,  the  very  bestperiod  for  their  departure  from  the  world.  Here 
faith  rests  in  confidence. 

While  God  has  a  work  for  His  servants  to  perform; — while  He 
judges  that  their  continuance  here  will  conduce  to  their  real  and 
ultimate  benefit,  He  will  effectually  protect  them  from  the  assaults 
of  death  however  formidable.  They  are  immortal  till  their  work 
is  done.  The  methods  of  preservation  are  various  but  calculated 
to  secure  the  object.  The  most  absolute  determinations  of  God 
do  not  supercede,  but  include  in  them,  the  operation  of  second 
causes.  Therefore  the  truly  pious  man  makes  it  his  business  un- 
der a  confidence  in  God's  care,  to  be  in  the  diligent  and  constant 
use  of  every  suitable  and  lawful  means  for  the  preservation  of  his 
life,  and  then  steadfastly  to  pursue  the  path  of  duty,  and  cheer- 
fully to  commit  the  event  to  God,  who  will  never  fail  to  preserve 
him  until  the  fittest  time  for  his  dissolution  be  fully  come.  (Job 
14:14.) 

It  follows  too,  that  when  this  period  has  really  arrived,  the^ath- 
er  of  mercies  will  surely  take  His  children  to  Himself,  however  in- 
auspicious the  time  may  seem  to  human  eye,  however  reluctantly 
those  who  remain  may  yield  to  the  dispensation,  however  fondty 
they  may  have  hoped,  and  however  fervently  have  prayed,  that 
it  might  be  otherwise.  All  true  prayer  is  made  with  the  qualifica- 
tion "Not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  wilt." 

God  alone  is  the  proper  judge  when  it  is  the  most  fit  and  con- 
venient to  remove  His  children  to  the  mansions  of  eternal  rest. — 
The  order  of  His  providence  in  this  respect  is  various.  Some- 
times even  to  our  eye,  ignorant,  short-sighted  and  selfish  as  we 


44 

are,  there  seems  a  propriety  in  the  time  which  God  appoints,  but 
more  frequently  this  is  hidden  from  our  view.  The  eminently 
pious,  and  those  with  great  prospects  of  usefulness  are  sometimes 
seen  to  take  their  departure  at  an  early  age.  Many  persons  of 
distinguished  abilities  and  religion  are  cut  off,  in  what  appears  to 
man's  eye,  the  midst  of  their  years.  Of  this  we  have  most  affect- 
ing instances.  The  dispensation  may  be  mysterious  and  beyond 
our  ability  now  to  explain.  "What  I  do  thou  knowest  not  now, 
but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter.  (John  13:  7.)  God's  thoughts  are 
not  ours,  but  they  are  infinitely  higher  and  better.  He  may  take 
away  the  righteous  from  the  evil  to  come.  He  may  intend  to 
teach  us  that  He  needs  not  the  instrument,  which  we  esteem  the 
most  suitable  to  do  his  work.  He  may  do  it  to  instruct  us  that 
we  should  enter  upon  our  fondest  endeavors  even  for  the  promo- 
ting of  His  glory  with  entire  resignation  to  His  disposal,  and  the 
lively  recollection  that  we  may  not  be  permitted  to  finish  our  de- 
signs, so  that  what  we  sow  another  may  reap.  He  may  design 
and  make  it  the  means  of  more  extensive  and  permanent  good  to 
the  living  than  all  their  labors  would  have  been;  to  teach  to  sur- 
vivers  the  duty  of  submission  to  His  will,  and  perhaps  convince 
them  in  the  result,  how  unprepared  they  are  to  practice  it.  Or 
he  may  purpose  thereby  to  accomplish  some  great  and  blessed 
end  which  we  do  not  .now  think  of,  and  which  shall  only  be  re- 
vealed to  us  in  the  light  of  heaven.  But,  whatever  may  be  His 
design  in  regard  to  the  living,  we  know  that  in  all  such  cases  the 
dead  receive  an  unspeakably  precious  benefit.  Their  anxieties 
and  labors  on  earth  are  happily  exchanged  for  an  eternal  repose 
and  triumph  in  heaven. 

2.  We  shall  now  consider,  somewhat  more  directly,  what  has 
already  been  in  a  measure  anticipated,  that  the  death  of  His  saints 
is  precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  in  regard  to  its  circumstances. 

We  have  indeed,  my  brethren,  no  assurance  that  the  circum- 
stances which  surround  the  death  of  the  good  man  shall  be  such 
as  are  most  desirable  to  our  natural  feelings.  It  may  be  in  ways 
most  trying  and  dismaying.  But  the  promise  on  which  the  be- 
liever trusts  is  "My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee,  for  my  strength  is 
made  perfect  in  weakness,"  (2  Cor.  12:  9.)  and  the  truth  of  this 
he.  will  not  fail  to  experience,  no  matter  what  the  circumstances 
which  accompany  his  exit  from  life. 

"Sure  the  last  end 
Of  the  good  man  is  peace.     How  calm  his  exit, 
Night  dews  fall  not  more  gently  to  the  ground, 
Nor  weary  worn  out   winds  expire  so  soft'* 


45 

Some  are  called  out  of  time  into  eternity  in  an  easy  and  gradual 
manner;  in  other  instances  the  vital  cord  is  suddenly  cut  or  snapt 
asunder.  In  the  departure  of  some  the  pillow  of  death  is  smooth- 
ed and  softened  by  a  thousand  alleviations — kindred,  family  and 
friends  left  in  health,  wealth  and  safety,  and  placed  in  circum- 
stances of  the  most  comfortable  and  desirable  kind,  and  the  last 
farewell  is  taken  without  a  distressing  thought  concerning  their 
future. '  In  other  cases  how  different !  The  loved  ones  they 
leave  behind  may  be  sick  and  helpless,  without  the  prospect  of 
earthly  support,  exposed  to  suffering  and  without  religion;  the 
good  man,  even  in  his  last  moments,  cannot  but  have  many  an 
anxious  care  for  their  future  comfort  and  their  eternal  welfare. 

In  spiritual  as  well  as  temporal  respects  there  is  also  a  variety 
attending  the  death-bed  of  christians,  which  by  no  means  at  first 
view  seems  to  be  encouraging.  Here  one  chooses  for  him  wiser 
than  himself,  and  infinitely  regardful  of  his  welfare,  but  who  often 
keeps  hidden  the  reasons  of  His  choice.  Some  truly  have  such 
elear  and  animating  views  of  their  interest  in  the  Saviour,  and  of 
the  glorious  state  on  which  they  are  about  to  enter,  that  they  die 
in  transport  and  triumph.  Death  then  is  the  most  desirable  event 
that  they  ever  contemplated.  Some  though  wanting  in  these 
exhilarating  cordials  to  the  soul,  have  yet  a  firm  and  unshaken 
confidence  in  God's  favor,  and  a  pleasing  prospect  of  the  future. 
Some  are  merely  composed  and  tranquil.  Some  vibrate  between 
hope  and  fear.  Some  perhaps  are  surprised  into  heaven,  when 
they  scarcely  dared  to  expect  it;  their  sun  set  under  a  dark  and 
gloomy  cloud:  and  some  awake  and  find  themselves  there  after  a 
delirium  or  a  torpor  which  had  benumbed  or  suspended  the 
powers  of  the  soul. 

Do  you  ask:  If  there  be  such  a  variety  in  this  most  interesting 
concern,  and  especially  if  such  distresses  are  suffered  by  God's 
people,  at  the  time  of  their  decease:  How  can  it  be  that  all  the 
circumstances  of  it  are  precious  in  His  sight,  and  ordered  in  His 
mercy  ?  This  is  my  answer:  God  seeth  not  as  man  seeth.  He 
has  infinitely  wise  and  gracious  reasons  for  all  these  allotments, 
though  He  may  not  see  fit  to  display  them  to  us.  His  benevo- 
lence is  not  a  weak  and  changeable  pity.  "Were  it  so,  and  did  it 
yield  to  all  the  desires  and  feelings  even  of  His  own  children, 
some  of  them  would  scarcely  enter  into  their  rest  at  all.  They 
are  often  seen  "clinging,  in  the  weakness  of  their  faith,  with  the 
greatest  tenacity  to  the  world,  and  their  Heavenly  Father  is 


46 

obliged  to  force  them  away — to  force  them  to  be  happy.  In  the 
variety  which  takes  place  in  regard  to  dying  comforts,  infinite 
wisdom  has  doubtless  kind  purposes  to  answer,  which  we  at  pres- 
ent are  unable  to  discern,  and  utterly  unfit  to  appreciate.  Yet 
this  one  thing  we  may  know  and  that  most  surely,  that  God  takes 
special  care  that  all  these  circumstances  are  regulated  by  infinite 
love,  for  their  final  and  greater  benefit. 

But  how  evidently,  even  to  our  imperfect  vision,  have;  in  the 
case  of  our  departed  brother,  the  circumstances  been  ordered  as 
precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord.  What  more  befitting  than  at 
the  close  of  a  quarter  century  of  active  and  successful  labor: — 
when  the  congratulatory  salutations  had  just  passed  between  him 
and  his  people;  after  the  celebrating  of  that  anniversary  which 
had  been  so  earnestly  anticipated,  and  so  pleasantly  enjoyed. — 
And  when,  too,  with  the  feelings  which  disposed  him  to  say  "now 
lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,"  and,  as  it  were,  the 
strong  presentiment,  more  than  once  expressed  that  his  work  was 
perhaps  closed: — and  which  induced  him  to  say,  after  preaching, 
on  the  last  Sabbath,  "How  becoming  if  the  Master  should  now 
take  me  home." — And  then  those  sermons,  which  were  his  last, 
so  interesting,  so  instructive,  so  appropriate  if  he  had  known 
surely  that  they  were  to  be  the  last;  giving  his  pastoral  benedic- 
tion, "Peace  be  unto  you,"  (John  20:  19)  and  the  admonition  of 
his  last  charge.  "Occupy  till  I  come."  (Luke  19:  13.)  How  fit ! 
How  beautiful ! 

And  in  all  the  Lord  was  very  gracious.  God  did  not  suddenly 
or  violently  break  the  ties  which  bound  him  to  earth.  There 
was  a  preparation  for  it.  He  looked  from  the  beginning  of  his 
illness  that  he  should  go  hence;  and  he  was  ready.  He  could 
and  did  look  calmly,  even  in  all  his  uneasiness,  oppression  and 
pain,  upon  the  approach  of  death.  It  had  no  terrors  to  him.  In 
regard  to  his  views  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  sickness,  he  said. — 
Though  I  have  not  those  bright  and  joyful  feelings  which  I  wish, 
yet  "I  know  in  whom  I  have  believed,"  &c.  But  these  views 
grew  brighter  and  brighter,  till  he  said  "almost  home,  brother, 
almost  home;  to-morrow  I  shall  spend  in  heaven."  And  then  so 
desired  and  triumphant  a  death  in  such  happy  circumstances, 
made  it  almost  like  the  chariots  of  Israel  and  the  horsemen  thereof 
to  this  dear  servant  of  the  Lord. 

What  desirable  surroundings  were  these  !  How  peaceful  and 
happy  an  exit  from  this  dark  world  of  sin  !      The  sun  has  gone 


4T 

down  beyond  the  western  hill  in  its  glorious  effulgence;  and  in 
the  calm  sweetness  of  the  summer's  evening,  the  bright  radiance 
of  its  setting  beams  sheds  roseate  hues  on  all  the  sky,  even  on  the 
light  clouds  behind,  which  hover  over. 

But  is  this  all,  and  are  its  rays  now  quenched  forever?  No. — 
If  a  man  die,  shall  he  live  again  ?  Yes.  An  immortal  life  is 
brought  to  light  in  the  gospel  of  Christ.     This  is  not  the  end. 

3.  We  are  most  certainly  assured  that  the  death  of  His  saints  is 
precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  with  reference  to  all  its  conse- 
quences. 

To  this,  no  doubt,  the  Psalmist  had  a  principal  view  in  the 
words  before  us.  Precious  indeed,  indescribably  precious,  will 
be  the  issues  of  death,  which  a  faithful  and  loving  God  will  bring 
about  to  all  His  people.  And  is  not  this  the  main  consideration? 
Often  does  the  solemn  scene,  or  the  circumstances  attending  it, 
become  an  opportunity  to  survivors,  friends  and  others,  tending  to 
their  conversion  or  sanctification  as  well  as  the  honor  of  religion. 
And  this  precious  effect  is  not  to  be  overlooked.  But  we  speak 
particularly  of  its  result  to  the  saint  himself.  "As  it  is  written, 
eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the 
heart  of  man,  the  things  which  God  hath  prepared  for  them  that 
love  Him."  (1  Cor.  2:  9.)  It  will  take  an  eternity,  my  friends, 
fully  to  learn  what  are  the  riches  of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints 
in  light.  There  is  scarce  time  to  glance  at  this  as  revealed  in  the 
gospel. 

Here  we  learn  that  one  of  the  precious  consequences  of  their 
death  is  an  immediate  cessation  from  all  sorrows.  "God  shall 
wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes."  (Rev.  7:  17.)  No  more  shall 
trouble  or  anxiety  disturb  their  peaceful  breast. — To  be  entirely 
free  from  the  remainder  of  sin  is  another  of  the  happy  conse- 
quences of  death  to  the  saints.  The  soul  rises  pure  and  spotless 
to  God  and  the  mansions  of  holiness,  never  again  to  be  infected 
with  sin  or  even  vexed  by  temptations.  Here,  too,  it  is  admitted 
to  the  immediate  vision  of  God,  and  of  the  Lamb.  Neither  is  the 
rest  which  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God  an  inactive  and  inglo- 
rious one,  but  all  their  powers  enlarged  and  purified,  shall  be 
employed  with  delightful  constancy  in  obedience  and  praise. — 
And  as  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  all  the  capacities  of  the 
soul  will  be  not  only  preserved,  but  extended  and  invigorated,  it 
is  pleasing  to  think  how  memory  will  be  employed  in  the  man- 
sions in  heaven,  in  retracing,  with  wonder  and  glad  surprise,  the 


48 

past  scenes  of  life.  How  different  will  then  appear  to  the  saint, 
in  the  light  of  eternity,  the  things  of  time.  He  will  review  with 
astonishment  his  unreasonable  fears,  groundless  apprehensions, 
his  unbelief,  want  of  confidence  in  God,  and  misapprehensions'of 
His  dispensations.  Ah !  how  will  he  discover  with  gratitude  the 
kind  designs  of  a  faithful  God  in  all  the  scenes  of  life,  and  the 
circumstances  of  death: — even  in  those  events  which  while  on 
earth  appeared  most  inexplicable; — and  a  light  will  then  glow 
around  those  places  here  dark  to  his  mind,  which  will  transport 
his  soul  with  grateful  joy,  and  raise  the  notes  of  his  praise,  in  the 
fulness  of  divine  love,  towards  him  a  sinner. 

The  creation  of  God  appears  to  be  in  all  its  parts  a  system  of 
gradation  and  subordination.  There  are  different  orders  of 
angels,  and  there  will  be,  as  we  gather  from  •  scripture,  different 
orders  of  saints.  But  this,  where  the  will  of  the  Lord,  the  sover- 
eign, is  the  only  fountain  of  happiness,  will  give  greater  delight 
to  all,  and  in  no  respect  diminish  it  in  any.  All  will  perceive 
and  rejoice  in  the  reasons  of  this  distinction.  Those  who  have 
labored,  and  loved,  and  sacrificed,  and  suffered  much,  in  the  cause 
of  God,  will  be  greatly  distinguished.  While  a  cup  of  cold  water 
given  to  a  disciple,  in  the  name  of  a  disciple,  shall  not  pass  with- 
out its  reward;  he  that  converteth  a  sinner  from  the  error  of  his 
ways  shall  be  more  highly  honored;  and  they  that  have  turned 
many  to  righteousness  shall  shine  as  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever. 
(Dan.  12:  3.)  Faithful  ministers  of  God's  word,  who  have  worn 
out  their  lives  in  His  service,  and  have  passed  away  whether 
earlier  or  later,  will  appear  as  stars  of  the  first  magnitude  in  the 
heaven  of  unfading  glory.  Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is 
the  death  of  His  saints,  in  these  happy  results. 

In  the  language  of  a  modern  poet,  who  sings  "the  Course  of 
time  and  final  doom  of  man." 

"Oh  who  can  speak  his  praise  !  great,  humble  man  ! 

He  in  the  current  of  destruction  stood 

And  warned  the  sinner  of  his  woe;  led  on 

Immanuel's  members,  in  the  evil  day; 

And,  with  the  everlasting  arms  embraced 

Himself  around,  stood  in  the  dreadful  front 

Of  battles,  high,  and  warred  victoriously 

With  death  and  hell.     And  now  has  come  his  rest, 

His  .triumph  day.     And  round  him  gathered,  clad 

In  white,  the  vouchers  of  his  ministry — 

The  flock,  his  care  had  nourished,  fed  and  saved. 

Illustrious,  like  the  sun, 
In  that  assembly,  he,  shining  from  far, 
Most  excellent  in  glory,  stands  assured,     . 
Waiting  the  promised  crown,  the  promised  throne, 


40 

The  welcome  and  approval  of  liLs  Lord. 

The  faithful  minister  ofQod:  — 
where  be  walks  on  yonder  mount,  that  lifts 
It-*  summit  high,  on  the  right  hand  of  bliss, 
Sublime  in  glory,  talking  with  "his  peers 
Of  the  incarnate  Saviour's  love,  and  past 
Affliction  lost  in  present  joy  !     See  how 
His  face  with  heavenly  ardor  glows,  and  how 
His  hand  enraptured  strikes  the  golden  lyre ! 
As  now  conversing  of  the  Lamb,  once  slain 
He  speaks — of  conflicts  o'er  and  glorious  victories 
Achieved  through  faith." 

I  see  him  there, 
•  Our  brother,  pastor,  friend  so  well  beloved, 
Joining  the  glorious  throng  in  praise  of  God. 

Yes,  among  them,  that  dear  departed  one  who  so  lately  filled 
this  place,  we  doubt  not  now  stands.  And  what  remains  for  us 
is  seriously  and  gratefully  to  record  that  grace  of  God  which  made 
him  what  he  was  on  earth,  and  then  removed  him  hence  to 
Heaven.  Time  will  not  permit,  did  my  abilities  warrant  it,  and 
the  materials  allow,  more  than  to  give  an  imperfect  sketch  of  the 
life  and  character  of  the  departed  pastor  of  this  church.  But  to 
those  who  knew  him  so  well,  it  is  almost  superfluous  for  me  to 
testify  of  his  worth;  the  piety  and  single  purpose  of  his  life,  and 
the  earnest  and  conscientious  discharge  of  his  ministerial  duties. 

The  Rev.  Henry  G.  Comingo  was  born  near  Harrodsburg,  Ky., 
on  the  2d  of  February,  1809.  He  was  descended  from  a  pious 
ancestry,  originally  from  Holland,  but  more  recently  emigrating 
from  ]Sew  York  to  Kentucky.  His  grandparents,  with  others 
of  the  same  stock,  seem  to  have  come  to  that  vicinity  as  a  colony, 
with  their  minister  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Labagh,  and  a  place  of  worship  was  erected  by  them,  (known  for 
some  reason  as  the  Mud  Meeting  House.)  But  the  minister  hav- 
ing returned  to  the  East,  and  no  one  succeeding  him,  the  church 
organization  fell  into  decay,  and  the  condition  of  things  was  unfa- 
vorable to  the  piety  of  the  survivors,  who  did  not  readily  enter 
into  other  church  relations. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  C.  did  not  make  a  profession  of  religion 
until  after  that  he  had.  His  education  was  rather  moral,  than 
religious.  He  was  their  eldest  child,  and  his  uniting  with  the 
church  made  such  an  impression  on  their  minds  that  they  soon 
became  members  also.  The  rest  of  the  family  seem  to  have  fol- 
lowed the  religious  inclination  which  was  given  to  him,  when  he 
made  a  profession  of  religion  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  At 
what  particular  date  this  was  made,  or  under  what  circumstances, 

G 


50 

we  are  not  informed;  but  it  was  under  the  ministry  of  the  excel- 
lent and  talented  Cleland,  whom  he  ever  held  in  the  highest 
regard;  and  probably  when  he  was  not  more  than  18  years  of  age. 

Soon  after  becoming  a  professed  follower  of  Christ,  Mr. 
Comingo  felt  a  strong  desire  and  call  to  the  ministry,  and  wished 
to  enter  upon  a  course  of  study  preparatory  to  that  work.  Though 
he  met  with  no  countenance  then,  from  Mb  parents,  but  the  con- 
trary, yet  God  raised  up  other  friends  to  encourage  and  aid  him 
in  this  excellent  desire;  especially  Judge  Green,  of  Danville,  in 
whose  family  he  resided  during  his  college  course.  Of  his  early 
religious  history  we  have  no  particular  account,  nor  of  the  cir- 
cumstances of  his  entering  college,  or  how  long  he  was  a  student 
there.  It  was  several  years.  At  Danville  he  commenced  and 
completed  his  course.  He  was  a  diligent  student,  universally 
esteemed  for  his  kindness  of  heart  and  devoted  piety.  He  grad- 
uated at  Centre  College  in  1832,  with  much  credit,  receiving  the 
appointment  of  delivering  the  valedictory  to  his  class;  not  so  much 
on  account  of  superiority  to  others  in  scholarship,  as  a  com- 
pliment paid  to  his  diligence  in  study,  his  estimable  character 
generally,  and  his  abilities  as  an  earnest,  pathetic  speaker.* 

While  at  College  his  whole  walk  and  demeanor  was  exemplary; 
and  he  exerted  a  tine  christian  influence  upon  all  with  whom  he 
was  associated,  whether  religious  or  not.  Though  standing  well 
in  his  class,  he  was  chiefly  eminent  for  his  decided  and  consistent 
piety,  and  his  kind  and  genial  disposition  and  manners.  He  was 
always  ready  to  take  part  in  meetings  for  social  worship,  and  for 
every  good  work.  His  religion  was  of  a  sound,  substantial  and 
earnest  character,  that  commanded  the  respect  of  the  most  thought- 
less students;  and  it  was,  at  the  same  time,  of  a  cheerful  and 
attractive  kind,  in  the  reality  of  which  all  had  confidence.  His 
vacations  were  spent  in  Bible  distribution  in  destitute  regions,  in 
visiting  and  addressing  Sabbath  Schools,  in  holding  prayer  meet- 
ings, exhorting,  delivering  lectures  on  temperance,  and  such  other 
services  as  might  be  useful:  while  it  was  always  manifest  that  his 
aim  was  to  glorify  God  in  efforts  to  lead  men  to  lives  of  piety. — 
Such  was  his  christian  character,  that  from  the  time  of  his  profes- 
sion, none  who  were  acquainted  with  him,  even  for  a  little  season, 
had  need  to  ask  if  he  was  a  member  of  the  church.  His  life  was 
a  living  epistle.  (2  Cor.  3:  2,  3.) 

After  his  graduation,  he  was  appointed  a  Tutor  in  the  College 

*  I  give  the  testimony  of  cotemporaries. 


51 

at  Danville,  where  lie  taught  with  rmich  acceptance  for  the  ensu- 
ing year  or  perhaps  longer.  In  the  Spring  of  1834  he  went  on  to 
Princeton,  to  attend  the  Theological  Seminary.  While  there  his 
character,  and  course,  and  standing,  was  similar  to  that  at  College. 
He  was  a  favorite  with  the  Professors,  and  with  the  better  class 
of  students.  While  attending  the  Seminary  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  Feb.  3,  1836.  He 
remained,  however,  to  the  close  of  his  course  of  theological  studies; 
and  in  the  succeeding  Autumn  came  to  Steubenville,  under  the 
following  circumstances. 

In  consequence  of  the  ill-health  of  the  then  pastor' of  this  church, 
he  had  tendered  his  resignation  in  the  Fall  of  1835.  This  was 
declined,  but  the  congregation  agreed  to  employ  an  asststant,  and 
for  this  purpose  called  Mr.  E.  T.  McLean,  who,  after  preaching  a 
few  months, — when  about  to  be  ordained  in  the  Spring  of  1836, 
was  seized  with  such  symptoms  of  pulmonary  disease,  as  made 
necessary  his  immediate  removal  to  a  southern  climate,  greatly  to 
the  regret  of  this  people.  Mr.  McLean  had  been  a  fellow  student 
of  Mr.  Comingo,  both  at  College  and  the  Seminary,  and  spoke 
favorably  of  him  as  a  suitable  successor.  In  the  course  of  the 
Autumn,  having  it  suggested  to  him  by  the  venerable  Dr.  Miller, 
and  an  invitation  having  been  extended  to  him  to  visit  the  church, 
and  spend  some  time  as  an  assistant  to  the  pastor,  he  came  in 
November,  and  preached  during  the  winter.  f 

Mr.  Comingo  was  then  a  young  man  just  from  his  theological 
studies;  but  he  made  a  most  favorable  impression,  especially  by 
his  agreeable  manners,  and  his  earnestness  and  devotedness  to 
his  work.  He  entered  upon  his  ministry,  with  a  zeal  for  his  mas- 
ter's cause,  and  the  conversion  of  sinners,  which  suffered  no  dim- 
inution for  the  twenty-five  years  that  he  continued  among  us.  It 
was  not  long  before  he  began  to  see  the  blessing  of  the  Lord,  in 
the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  ingathering  of  souls,  as 
the  fruit  of  his  labors. 

On  the  same  day  that  this  congregation  agreed  to  accept  my 
resignation  as  pastor,  it  was  voted  to  call  Mr.  Comingo,  as  my  suc- 
cessor. At  the  stated  Spring  meeting,  (April  4th,)  the  Presbytery 
having  first  acted  upon  the  pastor's  resignation,  immediately 
received  and  handed  over  the  call  to  Mr.  Comingo,  who  had  just 
been  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick;  and  he, 
having  aceepted  the  same,  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor,  on 
the  24th  May,  1857. 


• 


52 

Mr.  (Jomingo  was  an  industrious  and  successful  minister;  and 
eminently  a  man  of  faith  and  prayer.  Though  during  his  whole 
course  scrupulously  diligent  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  all 
duties  as  a  pastor,  he  had  a  felt  and  deep  consciousness  that  with- 
out the  Divine  blessing  all  his  labors  would  be  in  vain.  Hence 
his  earnest,  fervent,  wrestling  prayers  with  God,  not  only  in 
public,  as  you  often  heard  them,  but  in  private, — for  the  power  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  And  that  blessing  was,  again  and  again,  vouch- 
safed to  the  people  of  his  charge. 

A  particular  review  of  his  pastorate  having  been  so  recently 
and  so  fully  made  on  his  25th  anniversary,  it  will  not  be  repeated. 
In  the  year  1855,  Mr.  C.'s  health  being  seriously  impaired,  he  was 
induced  to  take  a  voyage  to  Europe.  This  did  not,  at  first,  pro- 
duce the  beneficial  results  expected;  and  in  view  of  his  protracted 
absence,  and  gloomy  prospects  of  health,  as  well  as  on  account  of 
discouraging  accounts  of  his  congregation  received,  he  was  led  to 
tender  his  resignation:  this  the  people,  with  great  unanimity  and 
cordiality,  refused  to  accept.  He  returned  in  the  early  part  of 
1856,  apparently  with  recovered  health,  and  entered  upon  his 
duftes  again,  with  renewed  earnestness  and  ability.  But  it  is 
doubtful  whether  he  ever  was  so  well  as  previously.  There  seemed 
a  weakening  of  the  chest,  which  appeared  in  greater  liability  to 
colds  and  affections  of  the  throat  and  breast.  Occasionally  some 
among  the  people  complained  of  his  frequent  absences  from  home: 
yet  they  couid  not  know  the  need  which  he  had  for  recreation, 
and  for  the  recuperation  of  those  powers,  which  were  run  down 
by  the  unabated  diligence  with  which,  when  at  home,  he  per- 
formed all  his  pastoral  duties. 

How  these  duties  were  done,  you,  my  dear  friends,  well  know. 
For  twenty-five  years  he  had  broken  to  this  congregation  the 
bread  of  life,  and  gone  in  and  out  before  them  in  all  the  sweet 
relations  of  a  pastor  to  his  flock; — uniting  them  in  marriage,  bap- 
tizing their  little  ones,  and  some  of  these  same  lambs  of  the  flock 
in  after  years  admitting  to  the  full  communion  of  the  church,  con- 
versing with  the  anxious,  directing  inquirers  to  the  cross,  watch- 
ing at  the  sick  bed,  and  whispering  peace  to  the  dying,  burying 
the  dead,  consoling  in  sorrow: — weeping  with  those  that  wept, 
and  rejoicing  with  those  that  rejoiced:  all  with  an  earnest  fidelity 
and  devotedness  of  soul,  in  true  sympathy,  as  you  have  known 
and  experienced;  but  which  I  truly  tell  you  is  rarely  equalled,  still 
less  excelled  even  among  the  best  ministers  of  our  church.     And 


53 

all  because  it  was  a  service  of  love,  from  his  whole  heart  lie  loved 
his  work  and  his  people  as  men  seldom  love:  and  this  was  felt, 
and  expressed  even  in  his  d}'ing  hours. 

But  his  twenty-five  years  of  ministerial  work  were  now  com- 
pleted. He  had  looked  forward  to  its  anniversary  with  desire, 
and  he  enjoyed  it  greatly  as  the  spontaneous  act  of  a  beloved 
people.  Little  did  they  imagine  in  presenting  him  with  a  token 
of  their  affection  for  a  pastor  of  so  long  standing,  that,  as  one  well 
said,  they  were  anointing  him  for  his  burial,  and  that  the  hand- 
some apparel  presented  to  him  for  his  service  in  the  sanctuary, 
would  be  so  soon  the  habiliments  of  the  grave.  "Against  the 
day  of  his  burial,  they  had  done  this.  (John  12:  7.)  It  was  not 
our  expectation: — but  all  was  fully  known  to  Him,  who  seeth  the 
end,  even  from  the  very  beginning. 

That  week  was  to  him  one  of  great  enjoyment;  especially  as  he 
rejoiced  with  others,  yet  it  was  with  a  subdued  and  chastened 
spirit,  as  though  it  was  the  last.  On  the  Sabbath  I  was  so  happy 
as  to  have  heard  those  two  discourses  with  which  he  wound  up 
his  ministry  among  you,  and  to  which  I  have  before  alluded.  He 
was  not  well  then,  though  the  first  serious  symptoms  of  his  disease 
did  not  appear  till  Monday.  "When  it  came,  it  was  a  most  violent 
attack,  and  soon  beyond  the  reach  of  medical  aid.  Such  was 
God's  ordering.  He  sank  rapidly,  though  without  losing  streDgth 
of  body  or  mind,  retaining  his  faculties  even  to  the  close  of  life, 
and  able  to  converse,  though  not  very  audibly  or  easily,  until  the 
very  last. 

From  the  first  he  anticipated  the  results;  and  said  he  should  not 
recover;  but  he  cheerfully  acquiesced  in  the  Divine  will,  looking 
to  a  speedy  admission  to  his  father's  house  in  heaven.  Towards 
the  last  he  not  only  expressed  a  desire  to  depart,  yes,  that  he 
would  rejoice  to  be  gone;  but  that  it  would  be  a  great  disappoint- 
ment to  him,  if  he  should  not  go:  and  that  he  was  afraid  indeed 
that  he  was  impatient  to  be  released  and  be  at  rest. 

He  had  no  anxiety  about  those  whom  he  left  behind  him.  "I 
know,"  said  he,  "that  the  Lord  will  abundantly  provide  for  my 
wife  and  children."  Though  not  in  the  beginning  enjoying  those 
bright  views  and  hopes  which  he  longed  for: — there  was  no  fear, 
no  doubt;  but  a  calm  and  tranquil  frame.  "I  know,"  said  he,  "in 
whom  I  have  believed,  and  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I 
have  committed  to  him."  But  his  views  gained  brightness  and 
joyousness  every  day  and  almost  every  hour,  until  he  could  say  to 


;>4 

one,  not  only  pleasantly  but  triumphantly — "  Almost  home, 
brother,  almost  home.     To-morrow  I  shall  be  in  heaven." 

It  would  be  impossible  to  repeat  all  or  much  of  what  he  said  to 
those  present,  or  the  messages  sent  to  friends,  some  of  whom  he 
expected  would  follow  him  at  no  distant  time.  He  talked  mucji, 
and  seemed  anxious  to  speak  to  all  about  him,  his  mind  being 
active,  elevated  and  happy;  and  often  asked  his  brethren  to  pray 
with  him,  and  them  and  others  to  sing. 

Of  himself  he  said,  "I  have  been  a  poor  miserable  ainner,  but 
God  has  been  merciful,  very  merciful.  I  have  been  unfaithful, 
but  God  has  graciously  owned  my  labors." 

Often  did  he  remember,  and  much  and  tenderly  did  he  speak 
of  his  congregation.  To  one  of  the  elders  he  said  very  earnestly, 
when  speaking  of  the  selection  of  another  pastor,  (and  it  was 
equally  a  charge  to  all  his  people,) — "Do  not  be  hasty."  Pray  very 
faithfully  and  a  great  deal  over  it.  Let  the  Lord  choose  for  you. 
And  then  he  himself  followed  with  a  prayer  that  the  Lord  would 
choose  and  send  a  pastor,  after  his  own  heart — one  that  would 
win  souls  to  Christ.  To  another  he  said:  "Give  my  love  to  my 
people,  my  dear,  dear  people;  my  first  and  only  love."  And  again: 
"My  dear  congregation.  I  did  not  know  how  much  I  loved  them. 
Tell  them  how  much  I  love  them.  They  have  been  very  kind  to 
me,  ever  since  I  have  been  with  them,  bearing  with  my  faults  and 
shortcomings.  Ask  them  to  forgive  me,  if  I  have  wronged  any 
one  of  them,  in  any  wise;  and  I  do  freely  forgive  any  who  have 
wronged  me,  I  entirely  forgive  them  all."  And  then  he  sent  his 
messages  to  those  who  have  continued  impenitent.  "Tell  them, 
from  their  pastor's  dying  bed,  to  give  their  hearts  unreservedly  to 
Jesus.     Oh,  why  will  they  reject  my  Saviour." 

Though  the  night  gathered  round,  it  was  light  in  his  soul.  As 
he  neared  the  eternal  world,  visions  of  heaven  seemed  to  break  in 
upon  him.  "I  shall  awake"  said  he  "in  Christ's  likeness.  Oh, 
precious  thought,  to  be  like  Jesus.  To-morrow  is  the  first  Sab- 
bath of  December,  and  I  shall  spend  it  in  heaven." 

"0,  glorious  hour  !  O,  blest  abode ! 
I  shall  be  near,  and  like  my  God." 

And  so  it  was  to  be — the  next  morning — the  morning  of  the 

holy,  blessed  Sabbath: — about  half  past  six  o'clock, — just  as  the 

day  was  breaking: — his  spirit  passed  away,  from  earth  to  heaven. 

"And   I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying  unto  me,  Write, 

Blessed  are  the  dead,  which  die  in  the  Lord,  from  henceforth;  yea, 


16 

Math  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their 
works  do  follow  them."  (Rev.  14:  13.) 

It  is  exceedingly  difficult  and  delicate  to  speak,  on  such  an  occa- 
sion as  this,  in  a  truly  becoming  manner,  faithfully  yet  modestly, 
of  the  character  and  worth  of  a  departed  pastor.  The  language 
of  eulogy,  which  the  personal  feelings  of  the  speaker  might  dic- 
tate, and  the  affectionate  regards  of  a  sorrowing  congregation 
expects,  would  perhaps  be  displeasing  in  the  sight  of  that  Holy 
One,  who  will  not  give  his  glory  to  another.  Yet  as  our  beloved 
brother  often  said,  and  always  practiced,  we  should  never  speak 
ill  of  the  absent; — least  of  all  of  the  dead.  Surely  in  this- 
time  of  our  grief  we  cannot  even  remember  faults  in  the  departed: 
and  he  himself  would  be  the  readiest  to  attribute  every  excellence 
to  divine  grace.  We  desire  to  avoid  every  excess,  and  to  utter,, 
in  sobriety,  such  things  as  are  true  and  faithful. 

Having,  then,  narrated  briefly  some  events  of  his  life,  let  us- 
proceed,  in  this  spirit,  to  speak  of  the  tiaits  of  his  character  as  a. 
man,  as  a  christian,  and  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel. 

The  first  thing  which  strikes  us  in  considering  him,  as  a  man, 
was  the  geniality  of  his  temper:  his  happy,  cheerful  and  cheering 
nature;  his  winning  manner  of  intercourse  in  life.  There  was 
something  in  his  first  approaches  even  to  a  stranger,  so  open,  so 
frank,  so  hearty: — as  to  make  a  most  favorable  impression,  and 
gain  an  access  and  a  confidence  which  was  very  unusual.  It  was; 
remarkable,  not  only  in  reference  to  the  general  mass  of  mankind,, 
to  whom  affability  is  a  virtue,  which  always  gives  an  introductions 
but  to  those  higher  and  more  exclusive  sets,  which  stand  upon 
ceremony,  yet  which  were  favorably  impressed  with  the  ardor  of 
his  nature  and  the  heartiness  of  his  manner.  And  one  reason  for 
this  with  them  was,  that  it  always  was  connected  with  the  gentle- 
manly bearing  of  one  who  had  such  a  self-reliance  as  never  to  be 
thrown  into  awkwardness  or  embarrassment;  and  yet  so  much 
true  modesty  as  never  to  be  chargeable  with  obtrusiveness.  Accus- 
tomed to  gooti  society,  he  always  felt  at  home  in  such,  and  made- 
himself  acceptable  and  interesting.  And  by  the  amiableness  of 
his  general  deportment,  and  the  urbanity  of  his  manners,  ho 
retained  what  he  had  gained  on  his  first  approaches. 

He  was  a  scholar  from  education,  and  the  cultivation  of  his; 
mind;  not  profound  or  professional,  but  varied  and  expansive;  and 
his  stores  of  information  were  always  so  at  his  command,  as  to  be- 
upon  all  proper  occasions  ready  for  use,  to  himself  and  others;  the 


56 

great  advantage  for  which  learning  is  valuable.  Not  a  student,  in 
the  exclusive  sense,  yet  who  made  himself  somewhat  acquainted 
with  almost  every  subject,  and  could  and  did  bring  the  powers  of 
his  mind  to  bear  more  fully  upon  those  topics  which  he  deemed 
of  greater  importance  to  his  work,  and  standing  in  society.  As 
a  tribute  of  respect  to  his  talents,  his  acquirements,  and  his  char- 
acter, the  College  at  Danville  conferred  on  him  the  honorary  title 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  about  two  or  three  years  ago. 

He  loved  society,  and  shone  in  it;  with  a  fine  flow  of  spirits 
himself,  he  inspired  life  to  all  about  him;  cheerful  and  compan- 
ionable, he  drew  forth  the  conversational  powers  of  others.  As 
one  well  said,  he  had  a  peculiar  and  happy  faculty  of  extracting 
the  gold  and  sunshine  from  every  thing.  His  temperament  was 
ardent,  and  ifc  was  carried  into  all  his  modes  of  thinking,  speaking 
and  acting.  It  was  readily  seen  and  felt  that  he  was  a  man  of 
impulse,  but  to  those  who  knew  him  it  was  most  evident  that 
these  impulses  though  warm  were  generous;  and  though  in  the 
heat  of  his  sentiments  and  feelings  his  impetuosity  sometimes 
hurried  him  to  expressions  and  actions  from  which  a  calculating 
judgment  would  have  preserved  him,  yet  behind  and  under- 
neath there  were  no  feelings  of'  bitterness  or  malignity.  Never 
did  he  appear  desirous  or  even  willing,  by  word  or  deed,  to  injure 
a  human  being.  He  did  not  cautiously  guard  himself  against 
misapprehension  by  others,  because  he  was  unsuspecting  himself; 
and  anxious  not  to  give  offence  to  any,  he  was  never  ready  to  take 
offence  at  the  banter  of  another.  His  wit  was  never  severe  or  sar- 
castic, but  playful ;  provocative  of  spirited  and  pleasant  reply,  but 
not  of  anger  or  pain  of  heart.  Indeed,  such  was  the  natural  kind- 
ness of  his  disposition,  or  that  gracious  charity  which  thinketh  no 
evil,  that  he  could  not  bear  to  hear  ill  spoken  of  another,  and  was 
hopeful  in  thought  and  word  even  of  the  doubtful.  He  readily 
recollected  the  good  in  the  character  and  course  of  others,  and 
was  prompt  with  the  most  favorable  construction,  sanguine  for 
good — but  if  faults  came  to  his  memory  they  were  seldom  per- 
mitted to  gain  body  from  his  lips.  Finally,  he  was  remarkably 
free  from  every  manifestation  of  selfishness,  and  from  all  that  was 
mean,  narrow,  vulgar  or  contracted. 

We  might  further  consider  him  as  the  affectionate  husband,  the 
kind  father,  the  good  neighbor,  the  warm  hearted  and  fast  friend, 
the  patriotic  citizen,  and  as  always  carrying  with  him,  into  all 
companies,  the  amenities  of  social  life.     Indeed,  on  one  point,  as 


.>! 


a  friend,  true,  firm  and  constant,  as  wcli  as  a  companion  and  asso- 
ciate, my  personal  feelings  tempt  me  strongly  to  expatiate — yet  I 
forbear.  Few  men  had  more  true  friends  and  warm  friends — all 
over  the  country — than  Henry  G.  Comingo. 

On  one  thing  I  remark  for  a  moment:  It  was  his  intense  interest 
for  his  country  in  the  present  crisis.  He  was  not  only  a  loyal  and 
faithful  citizen,  but  a  patriot  in  the  truest  sense  of  that  word,  as 
it  is  a  part  of  religion;  sympathizing  deeply  in  the  distraction  and 
distresses  of  his  country;  never  hesitating  to  designate  the  course 
of  the  rebels  against  the  Government,  as  most  wicked  and  flagi- 
tious; and  especially  mourning  over  those  of  his  friends  and 
acquaintance  who  had  cast  in  their  lot  with  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy. To  the  last  moment  of  his  life  he  watched  with  painful 
solicitude  the  dark  cloud  which  had  gathered  over  us  as  a  nation. 
His  most  constant  and  earnest  prayers  were  for  his  country's  wel- 
fare; for  in  God  was  his  trust.  He  was  deeply  oppressed  with  a 
view  of  the  future,  and  among  his  last  earnest  outcries  upon  his 
dying  bed — was  "Oh,  my  country!  my  country,  my  poor  country! 
what  is  to  become  of  it  ?" 

In  the  second  place,  I  delight  to  speak  of  his  character  as  a 
christian.     With  all  his  other  excellencies,  even  as  a  man,  which 
seemed  largely  to  partake  of  and  flow  from  christian  feeling;  I 
have  ever  been  in  the  habit,  both  in  thought  and  word,  of  placing, 
in  the  very  forefront,  his  religious  character.     From  the  first  of 
my  acquaintance  with  him  I  was  convinced  that  he  was  a  man  of 
God,  and  from  this  conviction  never  wavered.     His  religion, 
though  partaking  of  the  natural  temperament  as  a  man,  and  both 
of  them  modifying,  somewhat,  the  other,  was  nevertheless  a  vital 
principle  in  his  heart,   influencing  all  the   springs   of   feeling, 
thought  and  action.     This  was  evident,  not  so  much  from  any 
profession  of  it  by  the  lips,  for  our  brother  was  not  wont  to  speak 
often  or  at  large  of  his  own  experiences,  or  exercises  of  mind, 
either  present  or  past,  except  as  they  seemed  to  come  up  in  the 
course  of  general  remark;  but  there  was  in  this  a  spontaniety 
which  evinced  that  it  flowed  from  the  abundance  of  a  heart  im- 
bued with  divine  light  and  love;  and  this  was  sustained  by  that 
course  of  consistent  conduct,  and  natural  flow  of  pious  sentiments, 
which  showed  that  he  lived  near  to  God.    "We  have  but  little 
knowledge  of  the  inner  life  and  workings  of  divine  grace  in  his 
own  soul,  except  what  was  casually  manifested,  and  yet  this  was 
so  constant,  and  unforced,  as  clearly  to  show  us  where  his  heart 

H 


58 

Was,  and  where  his  communings  had  been.  His  piety  was  scrip- 
tural, evangelical,  experimental,  actuating  and  regular.  Usually 
it  was  -cheeeful,  hopeful  and  happy;  though  occasionally  he  woulc^ 
have  his  dark  and  even  desponding  hours,  (more  on  account  of 
his  church  and  his  labors  than  his  own  hope,)  and  these  were 
lightened  by  his  habit  and  resource  of  prayer.  I  mean  secret  and 
devotional  prayer;  and  those  who  have  marked  his  unusual  unc- 
tion in  this  exercise  in  public,  cannot  doubt  that  he  gained  it  by 
his  intimate  converse  with  God  in  the  closet. 

His  religion  was  not  professional,  or  occasional,  but  a  sincere 
and  constant,  living  and  actuating  principle;  as  was  evident  to  all 
those  who  came  most  nearly  in  contact  with  him;  for  it  was  always 
there;  continually  beaming  forth  in  words  and  deeds  which  had 
their  vitalizing  source,  evidently,  in  the  love  of  God,  and  love  of 
souls. 

He  was  a  man  of  faith.  He  had  great  confidence  in  God.  The 
promises  of  the  Scripture,  and  the  grace  of  the  Saviour,  were  the 
foundations  upon  which  he  built  his  hope,  not  only  for  his  own 
salvation,  but  of  others — for  the  church — his  country — the  world. 

Another  characteristic  of  his  Christianity  was  its  catholicity. — 
Firmly  attached  as  he  was  to  his  own  church,  and  to  its  doctrines 
and  worship,  after  an  intelligent  consideration  of  them,  yet  there 
was  nothing  in  his  feelings  narrow,  intolerant  or  bigotted.  He 
embraced,  in  the  arms  of  his  christian  affection,  all  whom  he 
thought  Christ's  true  disciples,  wherever  found,  and  he  was  very 
ready  and  easy  to  find  them.  He  had  no  feeling  which  would 
confine  his  christian  charities  to  the  pale  of  his  own  denomination, 
but  had  a  hand  and  heart  open  to  all;  feeling  a  deep  interest  in 
the  prosperity  of  God's  work  under  whatever  denominational 
form  it  was  carried  forward,  and  especially  interested  in  the  vari- 
ous churches  in  this  place,  uniting  with  them  in  all  good  works,, 
most  readily  and  cordially. 

It  only  remains  to  me  to  speak  of  Dr.  Comingo,  as  a  Minister  of 
the  Gospel.  For  this  office  he  had  always  a  high  regard,  and 
thought  no  one  should  enter  It  but  one  called  of  God  in  his  prov- 
idence and  by  his  Spirit;  and  who  did  not  devote  himself  wholly 
to  it.  From  the  beginning  of  his  christian  life,  this  was  his  own 
thought,  and  this  his  purpose.  He  had  laid  a  foundation  for  the 
due  exercise  of  its  functions  in  a  thorough  preparation,  both  col- 
legiate and  theological,  and  to  its  duties  he  brought  his  whole 
ieart  and  soul,  and  devoted  all  "his  resources.    Higher  than  to  be 


59 

an  able  and  faithful  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  he  had  no  aspira- 
tions, and  because  he  felt  that  there  was  no  higher  calling.  He 
then  gave  himself  fully  to  this  work,  deeming  that  as  it  filled  his 
heart,  so  it  might  till  his  hands.  His  learning  various,  if  not  pro- 
found, was  all  made  subservient  to  his  office;  and  he  only  desired 
to  enrich  his  mind,  and  increase  his  attainments,  that  he  might  be 
better  qualified  to  discharge  all  its  multiform  duties. 

As  a  preacher,  there  was  a  very  remarkable  combination  of  his 
characteristics  as  a  man  and  a  christian,  and  the  employment  of 
them  in  his  work.  These  peculiarities  were  clearly  distinguisha- 
ble in  his  labors;  especially  his  ardent  temperament;  earnest  man- 
ner, and  sanguine  hopefulness.  His  great  and  constant  aim,  in 
preaching  the  gospel,  was  to  win  souls  to  Christ.  For  this  purpose 
he  put  forth  all  his  power.  He  was  unequal  in  his  efforts,  and 
those  most  labored  were  not  always  t|ie  most  successful.  Indeed 
it  was  not  abroad,  but  at  home,  among  his  own  people,  that  he 
appeared  the  best.  His  forte  was,  not  in  argumentation,  much 
less  controversial  or  even  doctrinal  discourses,  but  in  warm  and 
pungent  addresses  to  the  heart  and  conscience.  He  was  fully  in- 
structed in  the  system  of  theology,  and  was  never  wanting  in  the 
presentment,  full  and  plain,  of  the  great  truths  of  evangelical  re- 
ligion, yet  this  was  rather  incidental  and  unavoidable,  than  regu- 
lar and  systematic,  and  only,  or  principally,  as  it  subserved  his 
great  design,  through  the  understanding  to  reach  the  inward 
springs  of  emotion  and  action.  Hence  his  style  and  manner, 
characterized  by  great  affection,  was,  with  occasional  exceptions 
only,  rather  hortatory  than  didactic.  His  warm  sympathetic  heart, 
combining  with  the  love  of  perishing  souls,  gave  a  peculiar  ten- 
derness and  emotional  tone  to  his  pleadings  with  sinners,  and  his 
presentations  of  Christ  to  the  awakened.  Christ,  as  his  own 
Saviour,  he  ardently  desired  to  have  formed  in  the  hearts  of  all 
his  hearers  as  the  hope  of  glory;  upon  which  theme  he  was  never 
weary  of  dwelling.  And  then  his  prayers — his  soul  breathing 
and  soul  affecting  prayers — who  of  us  has  not  felt  their  moving  influ- 
ence upon  his  soul  ? 

God  had  given  him  a  dignified  and  commanding  presence,  and 
a  voice  clear,  easily  inflected,  and  in  its  higher  modulations  and 
more  earnest  tones,  exceedingly  thrilling;  and  then  his  whole 
body,  as  well  as  soul,  seemed  working  in  the  utterance  of  those 
addresses,  which  he  made  to  his  hearers,  on  the  great  interests  of 
their  salvation.     All  of  you  know  the  power  of  his  graphic  de- 


60 

ecriptions  of  the  sinner's  doom,  and  have  felt  the  earnestness  and 
overwhelming  force  of  those  eloquent  appeals  which  he  made  to 
the  impenitent,  to  turn  from  his  way  to  the  Saviour.  And  this 
impressed  his  heart  even  at  the  last,  when  he  sent  his  message. — • 
"Tell  them  from  their  dying  pastor's  bed  to  give  their  hearts,  un- 
reservedly, to  Jesus.  Oh!  why  will  they  reject  my  Saviour!"  and 
to  the  messenger,  "Live  near  the  cross,  dear  brother,"  said  he. — 
"Labor  earnestly  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  That  is  the  great 
thing." 

But  it  was  his  desire,  and  design,  to  declare  to  men  the  whole 
counsel  of  God;  to  keep  back  nothing  which  was  profitable  to  the 
spiritual  interests  of  his  people.  And  this  reminds  me,  of  that 
which  was  most  evident,  that  however  much  he  felt  for  the  con- 
version of  the  world,  the  salvation  of  sinners  in  general,  yet  his 
heart  and  interest  circled  round  the  people  of  his  charge,  with  a 
peculiar  force.  They  had  been  particularly  and  solemnly  com- 
mitted to  his  care;  and  he  expected  to  account  for  them  in  the 
great  day.  He  was  pre-eminently  their  pastor.  He  loved  his 
charge  with  a  special  love.  His  very  affection  at  times  made  him 
unhappy.  "When  difficulties  and  misunderstandings  arose  among, 
and  with  them,  and  some  did  not  manifest  that  regard  for  him 
which  he  desired  and  longed  for,  he  was  jealous  of  their  affection, 
and  thought  they  did  not  appreciate  and  sympathize  with  him,  as 
they  might,  and  should.  The  difficulties  with,  and  coldness  of 
any  among  his  people,  was  to  him  the  occasion  of  the  sharpest 
pain  and  discouragement  which  he  ever  felt;  and  this  because  he 
had  given  to  them  all  his  heart. 

And  then,  not  only  in  the  pulpit,  but  especially  in  family  visita- 
tion and  personal  address  on  the  subject  of  religion,  how  happy 
and  successful  was  he.  There  was  a  most  enviable  facility  and 
felicity  with  which  religious  conversation  was  introduced  or  inter- 
mingled with  his  social  intercourse: — not  forced,  but  springing 
up  most  naturally  and  easily,  as  that  which  lay  uppermost  in  his 
mind  and  heart.  This  really  was  the  secret  of  much  of  his  suc- 
cess; not  so  much  or  mainly  from  his  set  discourses  and  pulpit 
exercises  alone,  but  from  these,  in  connection  with  the  intercourse 
of  daily  life,  the  casual  observation,  the  constant  breaking  forth 
of  a  christian  influence;  the  leading  of  an  awakened  or  serious 
mind  to  the  Saviour's  love. 

But  I  must  forbear.  .  We  might  also  speak  of  his  public  spirit 
which  made  him  fill  an  important  place  in  the  courts  and  councils 


61 

of  the  church,  especially  the  Presbytery  and  Synod;  where  hi* 
voice  was  often  heard  and  his  efforts  given  for  the  diffusion  of 
truth,  and  the  building  up  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  Here 
his  kindness  of  heart  drew  his  brethren  to  him  with  confiding 
affection.  In  these  bodies  the  occasional  addresses,  exhortations, 
and  stirring  appeals  of  brother  Comingo  were  always  highly  ap- 
preciated as  among  hh  happiest  efforts. 

I  might  also  refer  to  his  hearty  and  earnest  co-operation  in  the 
educational  efforts  of  "Washington  College  and  the  Western  The- 
ological Seminary,  both  of  which  will  miss  him  from  their  Boards. 
Nor  can  we — nor  shall*  we  forget  the  interest  which  he  felt  in,  and 
the  aid  he  gave  to  the  Female  Seminary  at  home,  displayed  even 
to  the  last,  when  he  sent  his  last — his  dying  message.  "Tell  the 
dear  girls  to  be  good  and  love  Jesus." 

How  many  interests — how  many  circles — how  many  hearts  will 
feel  his  loss.  But  God  still  lives — the  only  sure  and  certain,  un- 
failing and  everlasting  stay,  support,  portion  and' joy  of  the  soul. 
Mortal  friends  must  die;  all  earthly  things  will  pass  away;  the 
brightest  scenes  below  will  fade;  and  we,  ourselves,  are  changing 
too: — But  God,  our  God,  the  living  God,  will  never,  never  change. 
He  is  the  same — yesterday — to-day  and  forever. 

And  now,  my  dear  friends,  in  the  summing  up  of  all  these 
things: — our  first  and  highest  sentiment  should  be  that  of  grati- 
tude to  God; — for  such  a  pastor — so  long  continued  among  us, 
and  with  so  much  profit:  and  then  so  delightfully — yes,  I  must 
say,  so  delightfully,  removed  to  his  master's  house  in  heaven.  To 
God  be  all  the  praise.  It  was  His  grace  which  made  our  brother 
what  he  was,  which  was  truly  excellent: — it  was  His  goodness 
which  prolonged  his  life,  and  continued  him  here,  amid  not  a  few 
discouragements,  for  so  long  as  to  fulfill  his  quarter  of  a  century, 
and  permitted  him  and  you  to  enjoy  that  anniversary.  And  to 
God's  mercy  and  love  be  it  ascribed,  that  at  so  befitting  a  time 
and  in  such  opportune  circumstances,  he  was  made  to  ascend 
from  earth  to  heaven  in  so  comfortable  and  triumphant  a  manner. 
"Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  His  saints." — 
Once  more  we  say,  "Let  God  have  all  the  praise." 

In  the  review,  while  we  would  not  forget  that  our  brother  was 
a  man  of  like  passions  with  us,  and  subject  to  the  common  infirm- 
ities of  human  nature; — that  he  doubtless  had  faults  and  fallings, 
errors,  even  sins,  which  we  do  not  now  recall;  yet  we  rejoice  that 
his  life  was  so  pure,  so  consistent,  so  lovely: — that  there  is  nothing 


62 

to  vitiate  the  sweet  savor  of  his  memory,  and,  so  much  to  shed 
brightness  upon  our  review  of  his  character  and  course.  Blessed 
he  God,  for  our  memory  of  the  departed. 

What  a  rich  legacy  has  he  left  to  his  family  and  his  friends.  A 
good  name,  rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches.  (Prov.  22:  1.) — 
Yes,  a  good  name  is  better  than  precious  ointment.  (Eccles  7:  1.) 
The  example  and  precepts  to  which  they  can  revert:  and  the 
prayers  on  their  behalf  which  he  treasured  up  in  heaven.  "I  can" 
said  he,  "leave  my  wife  and  children,  confidently  with  God." 

To  those  of  this  congregation  or  assembly  who  are  yet  impeni- 
tent, I  would  say  that  his  last  message  was  to  you,  "Ah,  why 
will  they  reject  my  Saviour  ?"  Oh,  whyl  "Would  you  not  die 
the  death  of  the  righteous  ?  "Would  you  not  have  your  last  end 
like  his  ?"  Then  let  the  life  of  the  righteous  be  yours.  Turn. — 
Turn  to  God. 

And  you,  the  members  of  this  church;  the  elders — the  deacons 
— every  communicant  Shall  you  not  so  live  that  you  may  meet 
your  beloved  pastor  in  the  realms  of  light  ?  Live  near  to  God. — 
Neglect  not  the  means  of  grace,  and  especially  the  weekly  lecture, 
to  which  he  attached  so  much  importance.  Prepare  to  follow, 
you  know  not  how  soon. 

"We  mourn  his  loss;  but  let  us  imitate  his  example,  and  apply 
the  lessons  of  his  life.  A  voice  seems  to  linger  in  this  sanctuary: 
and  sounds  from  this  sacred  desk.  "Remember  the  words  which 
I  spake  unto  you,  while  I  was  yet  with  you." 

Ah  yes,  he  has  gone;  but  it  is 

To  sit  down  with  the  prophets,  by  the  clear 
And  chrystal  waters;  he  has  gone  to  join 
The  Song  of  the  Redeemed;  and  to  walk 
With  Hoge  and  Hening,  Hallock  and  the  host 
Of  the  just  men,  made  perfect. 

Already  has  he  met  with  those  of  his  charge  who  went  before, 
and  as  time  passes  on,  and  the  rest  of  his  beloved  flock,  beside 
those  whom  he  spoke  of  as  resting  in  their  graves,  shall  one  by 
one  go  up  to  God,  he  will  there  meet  them  at  the  gate  of  heaven, 
and  lead  them  to  the  Lamb,  saying,  "Here,  Lord,  am  I,  and  the 
children  thou  hast  given  me." 

Oh,  may  we — all — be  there. 


DATE  DUE 

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CAYLORO 

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